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THE 

HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES 



OP 



Mmttx> 



A MARKET TOWN IN OXFORDSHIRE: 

Compiled from Original Records, the Parish Archives, Title-Deeds of 

Estates, Harleian MSS., Papers in the Augmentation Office, Scarce / $ 6 t 
Books, &c., and containing Translations of the principal Papers, 
Charters, &c. in Kennett's Parochial Antiquities. 

TO WHICH IS ADDED 

AN INQUIRY 

INTO THE HISTORY OF 

&lcf)ester> 

A CITY OF THE DOBUNI, 

THE SITE OF WHICH NOW FORMS A PART OF THE COMMON 
FIELD OP WENDLEBURY IN THE COUNTY OF OXFORD. 

By JOHN DUNKIN. 

WITH AN APPENDIX, AND THE WHOLE OF KENNETT'S GLOSSARY. 



LONDON: 

$vinttb trp 0ie|jar& ant> 3trtJmr (CapTor, &f}nt;%mt, 

FOR THE AUTHOR^ AND SOLD BY J. AND A. ARCH, CORNHILLJ 
AND W. BALL, BICESTER. 

1816. 



TO 

JOHN COKER, Esgluire, 

LORD OF THE MANOR OF KING's-END IN THE PARISH OF 
BICESTER, CHAIRMAN OF THE QUARTER SESSIONS 
>F 

THIS HISTORY OF BICESTER AND ALCHESTER 

IS MOST RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED BY HIS MOST OBLIGED 
AND OBEDIENT HUMBLE SERVANT 

THE AUTHOR. 






Pedigree of the Family of Coker of Bicester. 



ARMS. — Arg. on a Bend gules three Leopards' Faces, or; in chief a Crescent for difference, 
Crest, — A Moor's Head, side faced, wreathed Ar. and G, 



John Coker de Worle = Eleanor, dau. and heir 



son of Robert Coker 
of Bower, Esq. 
ob. temp. Hen. 4. 



of Robert Veale of Ma- 
pouder, Dorset. 



Robert Coker == Alice, or Elizabeth, 
of Mapouder, Esq. I dau. of Rob. Turges, 
ob. 2 Hen. 6. of Melcombe-Turges. 



John Coker = A vice, dau. of 



of do. Esq. ob. 
5 Hen. 7. 



Thomas Mal- 
let, E.-q. 



Edmund, 
Prior of Totnes. 



Thomas Coker 
of do. Esq. ob. 
5 Hen. 8. 



= Jane, dau. of 
Rich. Sutton 
of Sarum, Esq. 



! 

Eleanor = Rich. Pomery 
of Rawdon 
co. Devon, Esq. 



Elizabeth = Tho. Gawen of Alice 
Northrington, 
Wilts. Esq. 



I 
Robert Coker 
of do. Esq. 



Elizabeth, dau. 
and heir of Henry 
Beaumont of Gid- 
desham, Esq. 



[ 
John Coker, 



=Joane, dau. of 



Isabella 



of Pollicot, afterward of 
Nun's-place or King's- 
end, Bicester, Esq. 
ob. 1606. 



.... Cooke of 

Morfley, Esq. 

ob. 1618. 



From this branch descend the 
Cokers of Mapouder. 



Anne 
dau. of. . . 

ob. 1625. 



:Cadwallader Coker 
of do. Esq. 
ob. 1653. 



Catherine, dau. of 

Cardwyn, 

ob. 1635. 



John Coker = Catherine 
of do. Esq. | daur. of. 
1695. 



Cadwallader 



I 

Frances 



I I 

William Catherine 



Thomas Coker = Mar5 r , dau. of 



of do. elk. 

ob. 1743. 



William Hearst 
of Sarum, Esq. 



I I 

John Coker Thomas Coker 
of do. Esq. of do. elk. 

ob. l^tSe. ob. 1799. 



Catherine 
ob. 1682. 



Cadwallader Coker =Catherine, dau. 



Esq. ob. 1780. 
set. 70. 



of . . . . Savary, of 
Marlborough, Esq. 



Robert Coker, Esq. 
ob. 1789, set. 79. 



John Coker = Charlotte Marsham, dau. 
of do. Esq. of Robert Lord Romney, 

1816. ob. 1794. 



Charlotte Coker, 
Nata 1794. 



ADVERTISEMENT. 

The chief part of the materials from which the 
following work is compiled was collected, from a 
wish to ascertain what reliance could be placed on 
the traditionary history of Bicester and Alchester. 

Necessarily engaged in other pursuits, which al- 
lowed but a very limited opportunity of indulging 
the desire of research, several years elapsed in col- 
lecting documents for and reducing the history into 
its present state. And as the utmost extent of the 
author's expectations was to afford a moment's enter- 
tainment to those friends who might peruse the 
manuscript, he was surprised to find not only a ge- 
neral willingness to further the object of his inqui- 
ries, but an anxiety that the work when completed 
might appear in print. To gratify this disposition, 
proposals were issued to publish it by subscription, 
and the numbers that immediately offered them- 
selves as subscribers proved the interest they took 
in its fate. That the book might be accessible to 
all, it has been chiefly attempted to condense as 
much matter as possible in the smallest compass. 



VI ADVERTISEMENT. 

With this view it was originally intended that the 
hody of the work should contain only the titles of 
the charters, grants, and other documents relative to 
the priory, markets, fairs, &c. which are printed in 
Kennett's Parochial Antiquities, deposited in the 
public archives, or remain in the possession of pri- 
vate individuals; and that a separate Appendix 
should be published, in which copies of the whole 
should be inserted, together with translations of 
those which are written in Latin, &c. This plan 
was relinquished at the request of several of the 
subscribers, who suggested that to the general mass 
of readers an English translation of the chief papers, 
together with an abridgement of the others found in 
Kennett, with copies of those necessary to form a 
continuation of that author's work, would be suffi- 
cient, while an opportunity would be thereby af- 
forded of re-printing the whole of the Glossary. In 
thus complying with the wishes of the subscribers, 
surely the public will not think there needs any apo- 
logy. — Of the manner in which the performance is 
executed every reader will judge for himself; and 
since excuses will avail nothing, perhaps it is best to 
be silent. — The author trusts, however, that he may 



ADVERTISEMENT. Vll 

say without presumption, that considerable exertion 
has been used in collecting the most authentic docu- 
ments relative to the places of which he treats — that 
no pains have been spared in endeavouring to obtain 
the most correct information of their present state, 
and that in all cases he has strictly adhered to truth 
and impartiality. 

Availing himself of this opportunity, the author 
gratefully acknowledges himself under particular 
obligations to the following gentlemen, who readily 
assisted him in the prosecution of his work, and 
kindly furnished him with original documents, 
translations, or communications. 

John Coker, Esq. 

John Caley, Esq. F. A. S. Keeper of the Records in the 

Court of Augmentation. 
John Satchell, Esq. Kettering. 
Alfred John Kempe, Esq. Blackheath. 
Mr. William Upcott, Librarian of the London Institution. 
The Feoffees of Estates for Charitable Purposes in Bicester. 
Rev. John Markland, Bicester. 
Rev. Richard Fletcher, ditto. 
Mr. John Kirby, ditto. 
Mr. Henry Chandler_, ditto. 
Mr. Thomas Harris, ditto. 
Mr. William Rolls, ditto. 
Mr. Richard Smith, ditto. &c. 



VIII ADVERTISEMENT. 

He has also to acknowledge the readiness shown 
by Sir G. P. Turner, Bart, to furnish him with the 
unpublished documents remaining in his possession 
relative to the Priory, while he has to lament the 
affliction that deprived him of the benefit which 
would have resulted from the fulfilment of his in- 
tentions. 

Bromley, Kent, January 1, 1816. 



ERRATA. 
Page. 
22. Line 8, for There are 15 hides and an half land of 22 carucates, read 

There are 15 hides and an half. Land of 22 carucates. 
28. Line 7, for From Doomsday Book it is evident, read From Doomsday 
Book it is clear. 

56. Line 5, for hence villains were found, &c. read and villains were 

found, &c. 

57. Line 6, for and hence poor laws were found necessary, read and in con- 

sequence poor laws, &c. 
40. Line 12, The quotation should close at feathers, instead of drawing-room. 
52. Note, for It is not known whether the three deaneries, &c. read It is not 

known when the three, &c. 
56. Note, for The money paid for the running of swine in a forest, read The 

running of swine in a forest. 

58. Line 11, for G. Basset and Egiline his wife gave all their lands, &c. read 

G. Basset and Egiline his wife gave to the priory all their lands, &C. 
58. Line 4. for gave for the health, read gave to the prior and convent for 

the health. 
62. Linel 8, for Bishopof LincoIn,Bath,&c. read Bishops of Lincoln,Bath,&c. 
92. Line 12 of Note, omit the word couchant. 
154. Line 21, for his treatment from the French, read his treatment from that 

people. 
158. Line 16, for last years, read decline. 
236. Note, for Hietto, sheep of two years old. Vide Glossary, read Hiette^ 

only. 
250. Lme 3, for 1535, 27 Henry VU|, read 1534, 26 Henry VUL 



THE 



HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES 

OF 

BICESTER. 



CHAPTER I. 

Situation and Name. 

XJl-CESTER, a considerable market town in the hundred 
of Ploughley in Oxfordshire, is situated near the north 
eastern boundary of the county, at the distance of thirteen 
miles from the city of Oxford. It is a town of very remote 
antiquity, and is commonly supposed to have been indebted 
for its origin to the Saxons ; but the precise date at which 
that event occurred, and the circumstances attending it, are 
totally unknown . The etymology of its name is almost equal- 
ly undetermined ; though several antiquarian writers of reput- 
ed erudition, in their endeavours to trace it^ have offered some 
plausible conjectures on the subject. 

Skinner in his Etymologicon Linguce Anglicance, states 
that Bicester was originally called by the Saxons Burenceas- 
ter, or Bernacester, from Buren or Bern, signifying grain, 
and Ceastre a town or station ; but Dr. Plot, in his Natural 
History of Oxfordshire, contends that it obtained that appel- 
lation from the forest of Bernwood, on the edge of which it 
then stood, and that it was subsequently denominated Burg- 
cester from St. Eadburgh, to whom the priory and parish 

B 



<2 SITUATION AND NAME. 

church were dedicated : in later times, by corruption, Burces- 
ter, and since Bisseter. These conjectures however, Kennet 
regards as unworthy of attention, and asserts that the town 
never was seated nearer than three miles to the forest above 
mentioned r . 

An anonymous writer, in a MS. History of Alchester, since 
printed at the end of Rennet's Antiquities, derives the name 
of Bicester from the apostle Birinus, whom he supposes to have 
advised the Saxons to erect a fort here, which they in conse- 
quence called, after him, Birini castrum 1 . — This idea is 
treated as improbable by Hearne, but Kennet allows it to 
have some weight, and seems to have hesitated whether 
to prefer it or the two following opinions. First, that Bi- 
cester might be derived from the Saxon Beorn, a word equivalent 
to castrum primarmm, the principal fortress, which he con- 
ceives may have been given to the place on account of the 
advantage it afforded to the West Saxons, as a military post 
against the Britons and Mercians ; or secondly, as hinted by 
Harrison, in his Description of England ? , that it might come 
fromBure, the name of the stream or rivulet which runs through 
the town 4 . With this latter opinion Hearne perfectly coin- 
cides, observing that it was named from its situation on the 
river Bruern or Bourn, and that the true writing is Bruern- 
cester or Bourncester 5 , With all due deference to the asser- 
tion of this eminent antiquary, however, the editor of the 
Beauties of Oxfordshire, observes that "it does not seem likely 
so trifling a stream as the Bure could impart a name to a set- 

1 Plot's Oxfordshire, (Oxford, 1705) p. 356. 
~ History of Alchester, apud Kennet, p. 687. 

3 Holiusheri's Chronicle, vol. i. 

4 Rennet's Parochial Antiquities, p. 27. The variation in the name of 
this town may be some argument to derive it from Birinus; for as he has run 
the changes of St. Birine, St. Beryn, St. Burine, &c. so has this place followed 
the change of initial syllables, Birine-ceastre, Beryncester, and BurJbacester. 

s> Oxouiana, vol. iii. p. 80. 



WEST SAXONS. 3 

tlement of consequence ; and it is certain that Berncestre was, 
in the age of Birinus, a frontier garrison, and was possibly built 
about his time, and by his advice, from the ruins of Al Chester 1 ." 
Amidst so general an uncertainty, it would appear presump- 
tuous in me to attempt settling this matter; for, if earlier 
writers could determine nothing with precision, much less is 
it now to be expected : besides, probability is not of much 
weight, since inquirers often find, in their researches after the 
origin of names, that the most unlikely is the true one. Nor 
is the traveller more surprised at the insignificant spring at 
the foot of the Abyssinian mountain, from which the fertile 
and overflowing Nilus takes its rise, than the readers of his- 
tory are at the trifling circumstances which have given appel- 
lations to persons and places renowned in the historic page. 



CHAPTER II. 

Description of the West Saxons. 

As it is generally allowed that Bicester and the surrounding 
villages owed their origin to the West Saxons, and formed part 
of their kingdom, a brief account of that people, and of the 
means by which they obtained possession of the country, may 
be interesting to the present inhabitants, some of whom are 
very probably their descendants. 

The warriors usually comprehended under the nameof Saxons 
consisted of three tribes or nations, Saxons, Jutes, and Angles. 
Of these the Angles were by far the most numerous, and ac- 
counted themselves the most honourable; insomuch that they 
affected to despise the Saxon name, and, when addressed as 



Beauties of Oxfordshire, by Brewer, London, 1813, p. 534. 

b2 



4 HISTORY PRECEDING 

such, would answer with disdain Ci We are not Saxons, but 
Angles/' They originally inhabited that part of the conti- 
nent which forms the duchy of Sleswick, and were among the 
foremost to engage in the expedition against Britain, to which 
it is thought the whole nation passed over under different 
leaders. By their valour they obtained possessions in every 
part of the country ; but in the counties of Oxford, Bucking- 
ham, &c. they are described as forming the bulk of the in- 
habitants. Their persons were elegant, tall, strong, and 
robust ; their hair, and complexions, generally fair - r their eyes 
commonly blue, stem, and piercing ; and they are characte- 
rized as more capable of enduring the austerities of winter 
and the pangs of hunger, than the anguish of thirst and the 
heat of the summer sun. Their moral character, even as it is 
represented by some of their own writers, would appear to 
have been destitute of every virtue except that of valour : 
but charity is inclined to doubt the faithfulness of the repre- 
sentation, and throw in some brighter tints; especially as 
other authors enumerate the additional virtues of chastity, 
hospitality, and kindness towards each other. The following 
may be considered as a narrative of the West Saxon military 
achievements, In this part of the country, and forming a 
history of the principal events connected with Bicester pre- 
vious to the conquest. 



CHAPTER III. 

General and Military History preceding the Norman 
Conquest* 

In the year 495, about thirty-six years after the landing of 
Hengist^ the first Saxon invader of Britain, a fresh body of 



THE NORMAN CONGLUEST. 5 

these warriors arrived under Cerdic and his son Kenric, and 
on the very day of their debarkation were engaged by the 
Britons. For that people, perceiving that the Saxons had 
determined upon the ruin and subjection of their country, 
were resolved to resist the intruders to the utmost of their power. 
Uniting themselves under the renowned Ambrosius and Ar- 
thur, they fought various battles with such success, that forty 
years of incessant warfare elapsed, before the Saxons, though 
assisted by numerous reinforcements, could effect the establish- 
ment of the kingdom of the West Saxons, which included the 
site of Bicester and its neighbourhood. 

The Britons inhabiting these parts so powerfully resisted 
the remains of the Saxon army which escaped the destructive 
conflict of Mount Badon, that they were totally unequal to 
further conquest during the life of Cerdic. A new generation 
of warriors arose, and victory repaired to the standard of his 
valiant son, Kenric : but the Britons, no way dispirited with 
the loss of Hampshire, concentrated their forces at Bcran- 
hyrig, now Banbury, (A. D. 556) and sought, by a desperate 
effort, to regain their lost honour. Their troops were drawn 
up in three lines ; each consisting of three distinct bodies, 
and the cavalry, the archers, and the pikemen were distri- 
buted according to the principles of the Roman tactics. The 
Saxons charged in one weighty column, boldly encountered 
with their short swords the long lances of the Britons, and 
maintained the conflict till the evening, when victory was yet 
doubtful : still, however, the fact of the fortresses remaining in 
the hands of the Britons proves that the contest terminated 
in their favour. 

New multitudes of German warriors continuing to increase 
the armies of the Saxons, and to pour into the country at op- 
posite points, distracted the attention of the Britons ; nor 
could the courage of despair, evinced in the fatal battle of 



6 HISTORY PRECEDING 

Bedford, preserve the British fortresses of Eglesburg or Ayles- 
bury, Bensington, and Eynsham, from falling into the hands 
of the enemy. Thus dispossessed of their strong holds, and 
overwhelmed by numbers, the Britons beheld the whole of 
their country parcelled out into districts, over which the 
principal chieftains assumed the sovereignty. On this oc- 
casion the midland counties were made to constitute the king- 
dom of Mercia. 

Though Oxfordshire has been usually considered as annex- 
ed to that monarchy, a great part of it was really subject to 
the West Saxons ; and though the Britons were driven to the 
westward, they remained for some time powerful and inde- 
pendent; the West Saxon garrisons of Cirencester and Eyns- 
ham were frequently harassed by their incursions, and in the 
last days of their freedom they displayed a valour and resolu- 
tion worthy of a better fate. Numbers however ultimately 
prevailed : the parties of the Britons were successively cut off; 
and when Penda ascended the Mercian throne, he directed the 
whole strength of his kingdom to effect their destruction : those 
few who escaped the sword were consigned to abject slavery. 

Hitherto the resistance of the Britons had engaged the 
common attention of the various tribes of Saxons, and pro- 
duced a friendly co-operation ; but when that people were 
entirely suppressed, the different monarchs fiercely commen- 
ced their inroads upon each other's territory. Among the 
foremost in showing his ambition was the West Saxon prince, 
who continually assailed his Mercian neighbours. These find- 
ing it difficult to defend their borders, collected their forces, 
and fought a desperate battle against the West Saxons at 
Cirencester. Both parties having tried their strength, and 
neither obtained the victory, it was considered prudent to 
form a league between the kingdoms. In this season of peace 
the West Saxon monarch was visited by the missionary Bi- 



THE NORMAN CONQUEST. J 

rinus r , who had been dispatched to attempt the conversion 
of the kingdom by Pope Honorius. 

The opportune arrival of Oswald, king of Northumberland, 
at the court of Kynigels, in the year 623, to unite himself in 
marriage with the daughter of that prince, contributed greatly 
to the success of Birinus. By their united persuasion, Kyni- 
gels was not only induced to embrace the Christian faith, 
but also to found an episcopal see at Dorchester, of which 
Birinus became the first bishop 2 . 



1 Though it required no common spirit of missionary zeal to venture among 
these barbarians, little is known of the former part of the life of Birinus, or 
what induced him to attempt the conversion of the West Saxons. He is intro- 
duced to our notice as an ecclesiastic applying to Pope Honorius for a depu- 
tation ; and the account goes on to state, that he was accepted, encouraged, 
and afterwards sent to Genoa, to receive ordination from Asterius, at which 
place it was expected he might have an opportunity of learning the Saxon 
language from the Franks who frequented it for the purposes of trade. 

Malrasbury and other ancient writers say that from thence he travelled 
through France to a sea port on the Channel, where having performed the 
sacred mysteries, he embarked in a Saxon vessel for the shores of Britain. 
That when at a considerable distance out at sea, he recollected he had left be- 
hind a corporeal containing the blessed sacrament; and considering it vain 
to solicit the return of the pagan sailors who steered the ship, and impossible 
to leave the treasure behind him, supported by a strong faith, he stept out of 
the ship upon the waters, which instantly became firm under his feet, and 
walked to land, where, having secured the vessel, he returned on board in the 
same manner, the ship remaining stationary from the moment he left it. The 
ship's crew were of the nation to which he was sent, and being struck with the 
miracle, lent a docile ear to his instructions, became the first fruits of his mis- 
sion, and gave an earnest of his future success. 

Milner says, ''This prodigy is so well attested by most of our judicious 
historians, that those who have had the greatest interest to do so, have not 
dared openly to deny it:" but it ought to be recollected that this author is 
disposed to believe that many miracles took place during the conversion of our 
Saxon ancestors. Hist, of Winchester, vol. i. p. 89, 90. 

2 It is said that Birinus was stung to death with snakes; and that none of 
that species could ever after live within the sound of the great bell of Dorches- 
ter abbey church. Mag. Brit. vol. iv. p. 476. 



8 HISTORY PRECEDING 

A. D. 643. Cenwalch having succeeded to the West Saxon 
kingdom, shortly afterwards divorced his queen, who was 
sister to Penda, the warlike and cruel king of Mercia. That 
monarch, indignant at what he conceived an unpardonable 
insult, immediately invaded Wessex, and defeating Cenwalch, 
forced him to seek refuge at the court of the king of the East 
Angles, with whom he resided three years, and was baptized. 
At his restoration, he voluntarily gave to Cuthred, his brother's 
son, to hold as a principality under him, all that part of his 
kingdom which lay on the north side of the Thames, com- 
puted at 3000 hides by the Saxon Chronicle; at the same 
number of villages by Huntingdon ; and at a third share of his 
whole dominions by Malmsbury. The donation, it is not im- 
probable, was made at Ashendon, in the forest of Bernwood 3 . 

A. D. 680. Ethelred, king of Mercia, having reduced all 
the country on this side of the Thames, and annexed it to the 
Mercian kingdom, Theodore, archbishop of Canterbury, anx- 
ious to gratify the ruling power, new modelled the bishops' 
see at Hatfield, and appointed Eta, a monk of the monastery 
of Hilda, at Whitby, to the bishopric of Dorchester, which, 
from the time of Birinus, had belonged to the West Saxons, 
but was henceforth united to Mercia. 

Oxfordshire remained annexed to Mercia till Cuthred, king 
of the West Saxons, no longer able to bear the insolence and 
extortion of the Mercian kings, gave battle to Ethelbald, at 
Burford, A. D. 752, when that monarch was defeated. By 
this victory Cuthred recovered the principal part of the 
county, and it remained attached to the West Saxons till Offa 
the Mercian, determined to regain it, marched an army across 
the frontiers, (A. D. 775), about Souldern or Fritwell, (where 
ran a branch of the Roman Way, since called the Vortway y 

3 Bernwood was disforested in the reign of James I. : it extended from Bor- 
stal to Wootten Underwood. 



THE NORMAN CON&UEST. Q 

or, by some, Wattle-bank), to Bensington, which place he 
besieged. Kenwulf coming to its relief, sustained a signal 
overthrow, and was forced to fly beyond the Thames; while Offa 
destroyed the fortress, and took possession of the county, 
which his successors retained till Beornwolf was defeated by 
Egbert, at the memorable battle of Ellendune, (perhaps El- 
lingham in Hampshire), when the county of Oxford was united 
to the West Saxon kingdom. Shortly after this, Ludecan 
usurped the regal power in Mercia, but was slain by the East 
Angles, 825. The Mercians then set up Wiglaf to rescue 
them from the West Saxon yoke ; but Wiglaf was conquered 
by Egbert, who permitted him notwithstanding to hold Mercia 
as a tributary kingdom. 

The reign of Wiglaf 's successor Berthwulph, a like tribu^ 
tary prince, was disturbed by the Danes, who overthrew his 
army and forced him to seek refuge in a foreign countrv, 
where he died, A. D. 852. The Danes, after taking much 
spoil, and committing great devastation, marched southward, 
which afforded Burrhed, the succeeding monarch, an oppor- 
tunity of strengthening his power by an alliance with King 
Ethelwolf, which seems to have had the effect of securing his 
dominions, as it does not appear that the Mercians were 
again visited by these ruthless invaders until 867, when, hav- 
ing succeeded in despoiling York and Nottingham, they pe- 
netrated into this kingdom, but were compelled to retreat by 
the exertions of Burrhed and his ally Ethelred, aided by the 
brother of the latter, afterwards the illustrious Alfred. 

In 870 the Danes again issued from York, and entered 
Mercia, marking their rout with blood and ruin. The East 
Angles, finding their former submissions would not preserve 
them from the miseries of war, flew to arms, but being totally 
defeated, the enemy seized upon Reading, and ravaged the 
surrounding country. To deliver his kingdom from these 
dreadful enemies, Ethelred collected all his forces, and fought 



10 HISTORY PRECEDING 

several battles with them. One of these took place at Ashen- 
don, near Bernwood, (A. D. 871) : but the courage of Alfred, 
after a severe conflict which continued without intermission 
the whole of the day, could only effect a temporary victory ; 
for, within fourteen days, the Danes having concentrated 
their forces at Basing in Hampshire, whither Ethelred had 
pursued them, again offered battle, and were in turn victori- 
ous. The Saxons retreated towards Bernwood, the scene of 
their former success.; ct perhaps," says Kennet, "hoping for 
assistance or security from the Roman fort of Alchester." The 
Danes immediately followed, and having divided their army 
into two parts, fell upon the English, who were encamped on 
the west side of Gravenhiil, where Ethelred and Alfred had 
cast up strong entrenchments, part of which still remain 
in Merton woods. The Danish troops, at the first onset, 
were broken ; but having rallied again, they beat the Saxons, 
and remained masters of the field. According to their usual 
custom, they interred the slain in the wood on the adjoining 
hill, which henceforward obtained the name of Grtepn-huJ, 
the hill of graves, or sepulchres of the dead. Dr. Plot con- 
siders this fact to be established by the circumstance of some 
Danish armour and immense numbers of bones having been 
discovered near that spot. As additional evidence on the same 
point, Kennet states that a Danish spur was found on opening 
the ground for the foundation of a garden wall for Sir Wil- 
liam Glynn, at Ambrosden. 

Victory having thus declared in favour of the Danes, they 
immediately marched and burned Reading ; but Burdred 
having consented, by the payment of the infamous Dane-gelt, 
to become tributary, they afterwards withdrew beyond the 
Humber. When however they had destroyed every thing in 
that country they again returned into Mercia; and Burdred 
perceiving they were bound by no treaties, once more had 
recourse to arms. Being defeated^ he abandoned his coun^ 



THE NORMAN CONQUEST. 11 

try in despair, and fled to Rome, were he soon afterwards 
died. The Danes then committed the government of Mercia 
to Ceolwulf, on condition of his assisting them in their depre- 
dations^ and surrendering the kingdom on demand. Affairs 
however did not remain long in this state : the Danes bestowed 
a part of Mercia on Healfdune ; and Ceolwulf, sensible of 
the danger and difficulty of his situation, delivered up the re- 
mainder to the celebrated King Alfred. 

It is said that while the Danes continued at Northampton, 
the Saxons constructed a wall and ditch to prevent their in- 
cursions into these parts. If so, it is not improbable that the 
wall was raised on the bank of the original ditch, or on a 
branch of that made by Offa, (and thence called Avesditch) i 
which marked the western boundary of the Mercian kingdom. 
A rampart is also represented as having at that time been 
erected on a spot at Mixbury, afterwards called Beamont, and 
another at Ardley : without doubt there were others at inter- 
mediate distances, but their sites remain undetermined. 

The genius and success of Alfred procured a general respite 
from Danish violence ; and in 886, his policy induced him 
to reduce Mercia from the rank of a tributary kingdom to 
that of a province, the government of which he committed 
to Ethelred, his son-in-law. Great numbers of the Danes 
were, however, scattered throughout Mercia ; and, after the 
death of Alfred, they resumed their ravages in straggling bo- 
dies. These were taken into the pay of Edward and Ethel- 
wald, who struggled for the sceptre, and harassed the coun- 
try with their conflicts (A. D. 904). The surrender of Ox- 
ford, and the subsequent death of Ethelwald, leaving Edward 
undisputed sovereign, he directed his attention to the sub- 
jection of the Danes, and accomplished his design, by the 
assistance of his sister Ethelfleda, widow of Ethelred, governor 
of Mercia. This heroic princess (who inherited more of the 
spirit of the great Alfred than any of his other children) despis- 



12 HISTORY PRECEDING 

ing the humble eares and amusements of her own sex, com- 
manded armies, built cities, and performed exploits which 
would have done honour to the greatest princes. Having go- 
verned Mercia eight years after the death of her husband, she 
died in the year 920, and Edward took the government into 
his own hands. 

In those distracted times, between 91 1 and 914, the Danes 
made this county a scene of devastation, and entirely de- 
stroyed the old town of Berincester, and the villages of Ful- 
well, Woolaston, Shelswell, Bainton, and Saxonton, some of 
which have never been rebuilt. 

The exertions of Edward and Athelstan seem to have se- 
cured peace to these parts until the time of Edwy, when the 
ecclesiastics Odo and Dunstan excited the people to revolt, 
and persuaded them to call his brother Edgar to the govern- 
ment. 

Fortunately the administration of Edgar was popular, and 
and his reign peacable; but that of his successor was marked 
by Danish invasion and outrage. To gain the friendship of 
the barbarians, and, if possible, thereby to prevent their de- 
predations, a marriage was proposed between Ethelred and 
the daughter of one of their princes ; but the people smarting 
under their violence, secretly resolved (probably countenanced 
by Ethelred) on a general massacre, which in Oxfordshire 
was carried into effect with every circumstance of cruelty, on 
St. Brice's festival, Nov. 13, 1002, the churches themselves 
affording no protection. This treachery was severely reveng- 
ed by the Danes, who, with an immense army, invaded, ra- 
vaged, and imposed a heavy tribute on the country. 

For many years, without any intermission, Oxford paid 
tribute to the Danes, during which time it was subject to 
every calamity, and was in part destroyed by fire ; but the 
sufferings of the county reached their height, when Sweyn, 
A. D. 1013, marching from Gainsborough, issued orders for 



THE NORMAN CONCIUEST. 13 

his soldiers to plunder the churches and ravish the women, 
in every part of the country on this side Wallingford. This 
brutal order was as brutally executed ; but the subsequent 
death of Sweyn, and the elevation of Canute, brought peace 
to the exhausted Saxons. 

The policy of that prince was to allay the animosities be- 
tween his Danish and Saxon subjects, and to attempt effect- 
ing a cordial union between them : nor was he unsuccessful. 
Notwithstanding the number of Danes that were settled in 
Mercia, the country henceforth enjoyed peace. At what time 
the inhabitants of Bicester, and the surrounding villages which 
had been destroyed, commenced there-erection of their habi- 
tations, record does not inform us, nor can it be discovered 
why those of Berncester preferred the other side of the brook 
to the site on which the town had previously stood: conjecture 
is useless ; since we hear nothing more of the place till it is 
found constituting a part of the vast possessions of Wigod % 
de Wallingford, in the reign of Edward the Confessor 3 . 



CHAPTER IV. 

Roads. 

1 he bad state of the Oxfordshire roads x was long proverbial, 
and there were few more deservedly stigmatized than those in 



- Perhaps " de Wallingford" has been added to his name in later ages, to 
distinguish this thane or nobleman by his residence, which was at Wallingford, 
as it is generally admitted that surnames were introduced by the Normans. 

3 Kennet, Antiq. p. 23—50. 

1 In ancient times the roads were repaired either by sums levied upon parishes, 
or by the services of individuals ; and in the days of popery it was considered as 
an highly meritorious act of piety to devote money to this purpose j hence the 



14 ROADS. 

the neighbourhood of Bicester. At certain seasons the latter 
were absolutely impassible, and at all times attended with 
danger to the traveller. Much improvement, however, has of 
late years been effected by the introduction of turnpikes. The 
road leading from Bicester to Aylesbury was the first on which 
the experiment was tried. For this purpose, an act of par- 
liament was obtained, 10th Geo. III. A. D. 1/70, enabling 
trustees to borrow sums of money, for repairing and widening 
the road ; permitting them to erect gates, and receive mode- 
rate tolls for the liquidation of such sums, for the term of 
twenty-one years from the time of the passing of the act*. 
By the successive acts of 1791 and 1813, the trustees have 
been enabled to direct their attention to further improvements j 
and the communication between Bicester and Aylesbury may 
be considered as convenient as local circumstances will admit. 
The tolls are of Ad. for every beast of draught, 2d. for every 
horse not drawing, \s. 3d. per score for oxen, &c. and 10c?. 
for calves, sheep, &c. besides double tolls on Sundays. The 
exemptions are limited to carriages, &c. employed in the pub- 
lic service ; to carriages, &c. employed in purposes of hus- 
bandry, not going beyond the limits of each respective parish, 
and to those used f or the purpose of going or returning from 
public worship. 

In 1793 an act was obtained for ce amending, widening, 
and repairing the road from Clay-hill, in the turnpike-road 
between Neat-Enstone and Chipping-Norton, in the county 
of Oxford, over the Heyford-bridge to the Water-lane, in the 



frequency of donations towards mending the highways, many of v,hich still 
continue to be received. See Hist, of Bromley, p. 21. 

- The act, as usual, does not dispense with any law, custom, or usage which 
requires statute work, or sums of money to be paid in lieu of repairs of the 
road- but directs the continuation of the same, or a yearly composition, 
to be paid to the surveyor of the roads of the parish in which such highway is 
situated. Act, p. 20, 22. 



ROADS. 15 

town of Bicester, and from Bicester to the turnpike -road in 
Weston-on-the-green." The term and powers of the act were 
further enlarged and extended in 1813_, and " the road branch- 
ing out of the turnpike-road at Bicester windmill, to the turn- 
pike-road leading from Blechington to Onslow-bridge, in the 
county of Oxon," included in those directed to be repaired. 

In the same session (viz. 1793, 31st Geo. III.) was another 
act passed for ce repairing and widening the road from the 
market-place in Bicester to the Buckingham turnpike-road, 
in Aynho, in the county of Northampton/' By the extension 
of its term and powers, A. D. 1813, "the road branching out 
of the turnpike-road at Bicester Town's-end, and joining the 
Buckingham turnpike-road, in the parish of Finmere, co. 
Oxon, was incorporated with the above ;" since which the re- 
pair has commenced. 

The tolls and all exemptions on these roads are similar to 
those on the Aylesbury road already described ; and the time 
allotted for the operation of each of these acts is limited to 
twenty-one years 3 . 

There are several other roads leading to the neighbouring 
villages of Launton, Bucknell, &c. which remain in their ori- 
ginal state ; but as they are not often used for purposes of 
traffic, their condition is not so much a matter of public con- 
sideration. 



3 See the different Acts. 



l6 DESCRIFT10N OF THE TOWN. 

CHAPTER V. 

General Description of the Town. 

JDicester is situated in a flat country, surrounded by rich 
arable and pasture land. The air is extremely healthy, and 
the water pure. The neighbourhood, which is well adapted 
for the chase, has long been the annual resort of gentlemen 
addicted to that diversion. 

The parish, including both the townships, Market-end and 
King's-end, may be estimated to contain about 2600 acres, 
of which the greater part' is in good cultivation. Graven-hill 
and Merton are the only woods to which it is contiguous. 

The town consists chiefly of one irregular street extending 
about a mile and a half in length, with two others branching 
from it called Crockwell and Water-lane. 

That part of the principal street named New-luildings is 
in all probability the most recent part of the town, as they are 
not mentioned in any of the ancient writings quoted by Ken- 
net ; and the circumstance of an hermitage standing on the 
site of the house now occupied by Mr. William Horwood, may 
be adduced as procf that there were no other buildings adjoin- 
ing in the reign of Edward III. except the chapel of St. John 
the Baptist ; both of which were probably surrounded by a plot 
of ground, then called a the Hermitage Close," which ex- 
tended into Crockwell. 

Within the recollection of many of the present inhabitants, 
the site of the turnpike was known by the name of Butts- 
corner; from which it may fairly be presumed, that this spot 
was anciently without the boundaries of the town ; the name 
intimating that butts, or ends of lands, (in the field) extended 
to that spot 1 . Perhaps it may be proper to add, that the 



1 Thsi opinion seems warranted by Rennet's Glossary j though some may 



con- 



DF THE TOWN. 17 

garden belonging to the turnpike was formerly the common 
pound. 

Crockwell probably derived its name from an ancient tri- 
angular well of excellent water, at present covered by the 
corner house, at the bottom of that street, but which was for- 
merly open and exposed. When it was deemed advisable to 
build over the spring, part of its waters were conveyed into a 
well on the waste, and part to a small reservoir, called the 
Horse Spring, then under the wall, but now in the close of 
John Coker, Esq. The well has been since removed, and that 
which is now found near the spot^ was made at the expense 
of the above gentleman, about the year 1794. A few years 
ago, Mr. Thomas Harris, a wool-comber, formed the adjoin- 
ing premises into a bath, but as the speculation was not suc- 
cessful they have since been converted into a dwelling-house, 
The name of Crockwell appears as early as A.D. 1211, when 
a Walter de Crockwell is mentioned in the priory annals, 
whose name, it is very probable, was derived from this place. 
In 1245, a messuage in Crockwell is described as given by 
William Longspee to the canons. Crockwell was inhabited 
by some indigent people, who received alms of the priory, in 
1277 ; and for some years has been the abode of the poorer 
class only 2 . 



jecture that it derived its name from having been the spot on which the butts 
for the practising of archery were formely placed. 

2 Until within the last eighteen or twenty years, houses in Crockwell were 
let to the poor at a moderate rent, (from 15s. to 21. per annum, according to 
their different state of repair, and the extent of garden attached); but about 
that period two individuals (one of whom is since dead) commenced a kind of 
speculation in these cottages, to the full extent of their property ; and by 
dividing and subdividing the old houses, were not satisfied by rendering them 
small and inconvenient, but enhanced the rent beyond all proportion; so 
that at present there are cottages, without a foot of ground attached, <and at 
most consisting of two or three rooms, which are actually let for 7Z. per an- 
num.— --Disgraceful indeed to the avaricious and unfeeling owner! 

C 



18 DESCRIPTION 

Traces still remain of a back road through the brook into 
King's-end, which served for the use of teams when the drivers 
wished to avoid the town. After the turnpike -road was made, 
this way was rendered impassable, and the ground added to 
Mr. Coker's close, on the condition of his allowing a foot- 
path through the adjoining Dovehouse close : part of these 
closes were formerly called Crockwell Moor. 

Sheep Street, in old writings, is called St. John's-street, 
most likely from its leading to the chapel of St. John the Bap- 
tist : and it appears to have borne that name from a very 
early period down to the sixteenth century. The present 
name is derived from the sheep-market, which is kept in it. 
This street, together with the market-place, is inhabited by 
the principal tradesmen of the town, whose dwellings are in 
general very respectable. The Market-hill is a small square, 
having on one side the King's Arms Inn, which is the first in 
Bicester. The Shambles are a long range of open buildings, 
erected for the express accommodation of the butchers, 
but which are now little used; that class of the towns- 
people preferring shops attached to their own dwellings. For- 
merly this place was much resorted to, and was crowded 
by a row of butchers' stalls on each side, besides the sham- 
bles. The Town-hall is an adjoining building, bearing 
the date of 1686, but erected in 1622 ? . Its eastern end is 
surmounted by a turret, with a bell and clock ; the former of 
which is used to collect the officers and townsmen when they 
meet here on parochial business. The ground floor is let 
to some of the inhabitants, and partly used as a dwelling- 
house. In this hall the charity school was held about fifty years 
ago, but it has since been transferred to a smaller room built 
over the Cage and Engine-house. 

« The date of the erection of the " Towne Eaule" may be found on the 
back of one of the old writings in the Wallingford chest. 



OF THE TOWN. 19 

Opposite these stood the pillory and whipping-post, Which 
was removed some years since, and the irons belonging to it 
affixed to a post in the Shambles. The stocks still remain in 
front of the cage. 

One branch of the brook crosses the street just below the 
end of the Water-lane ; under an arched bridge guarded by 
a parapet on one side^ where the channel is considerably en- 
larged for the accommodation of the inhabitants of the town, 
in washing and watering horses. On the embankment is a 
single row of houses which constitute the principal buildings 
of the Water-lane. The Meeting -house, on the opposite 
side of the road, stands upon the site of some buildings which 
were destroyed by the dreadful fire of 1724, which extended 
its ravages as far as the back of the King's Arms. Adjoining 
the turnpike was a very ancient m ill, mentioned in Doomsday 
Book, the dam of whieh> a fine body of water, was greatly ad- 
mired by strangers. The mill-house has been improved, 
and is now a handsome structure, but has lost much of its 
picturesque appearance, from the water having been lately 
arched over, and the space covered with green-sward. 

At a short distance from Blind-lane stands the Pest-house, 
erected for the reception of persons afflicted with the small 
pox. The Work-house is a substantial building belonging to 
the feoffees of estates for charitable purposes, but let to the 
parish, and capable of accommodating forty poor individuals. 
Nearer to the Market-hill is the handsome residence of 
Mr. Davis. 

The Causeway extends from the town brook to the church- 
yard, and was originally a raised bank (as the name implies) 
for crossing the brook : the whole of the hollow way has been 
of late years filled up, and the brook arched over ; but, in 
rainy seasons, the bank is frequently overflowed, and the 
houses inundated. A small lane leads to Place-ywd, so 
called from its being the site of the Priory. 

c2 



20 DESCRIPTION OF THE TOWN. 

The Church-yard, which is considerably elevated above the 
highway, is used as a thorough-fare from one township to 
the other. The church is the place of worship common to 
both townships. 

King* s-end, according to Kennett, is built on the site of 
the old town of Berincestre or Bicester, which was destroyed 
by the Danes about the year 913. A few houses afterwards 
erected on the spot obtained the name of the Village of 
Bigenhul, which, however, gave way to that of King's-end, 
the township having been known by the latter appellation so 
early as 1399. Till of late years there was a large green, 
with several houses upon it ; these have been pulled down, 
and the green added to the pleasure grounds of John Coker, 
Esq. the lord of the manor, whose seat is the chief ornament 
of the town. For the accommodation of those poor who were 
deprived of habitations by taking down the houses on the 
green, some buildings have been erected upon the land 
adjoining King's-end turnpike. 

There is no manufacture of great importance now carried 
on at Bicester; though formerly the making of sack-cloth, 
and of common leather slippers, together with the combing 
of Jersey wool, formed the employment of a large proportion 
of the inhabitants. Some of the poor have been of late years 
employed in the lace trade ; but even this seems declining, 
and time alone can discover whether the new business intro- 
duced, viz. the plaiting of straw, will rise to any consequence. 
Many ancient writers have spoken in praise of the excellence 
of Bicester malt liquor, a reputation which at present it most 
justly retains. The town derives great benefit from its mar- 
ket and fairs, which are well attended by dealers in cattle. 



INHABITANTS, TENURES, ETC. 21 



CHAPTER V. 

State of the Inhabitants, Tenures, &c. 

1 he earliest authentic records represent Bicester as forming 
a part of the Honour of Walling ford ; but as there is no 
particular account of the village anterior to Doomsday 
Book, and that volume is universally considered as valu- 
able a piece of antiquity as any age or nation could ever 
boast, a short account of it may not be uninteresting. — 
The idea of this undertaking was most likely suggested by the 
survey instituted by the celebrated King Alfred ; and reflects 
honour on the memory of William. Executed at a time 
(A. D. 10S2) when the Conqueror's authority was fully esta- 
blished, and the land divided among his chieftains, it conveys a 
minute account of every part of the kingdom. To attain as 
near to correctness as possible, the commissioners were em- 
powered to examine upon oath the lords of each manor, the 
presbyters of each church, the reeves of every hundred, and 
six villains of every village, relative to the quantity of mea- 
dow, pasture, wood, and arable land in their district, the 
names of the proprietors, the nature of their tenures, the 
number of tenants, cottagers, and slaves, of all denomina- 
tions, who lived upon the different estates, and their probable 
value. The work was executed with fidelity, and every par- 
ticular entered regularly in the register. Oxfordshire was the 
fourteenth county surveyed (A. D. 1084), and the following 
is a correct extract of the part relating to the village of Bi- 
cester. 



22 INHABITANTS, 

Ide . Ro . (De Oilgi) ten? Bernecesthe p .11 .Ma- 
ner . Ibi st . xv . hidae *j dim . Tra . xxn . car . De 
hac tra . 111 . hidae si in dnio . *j ibi . vi . car . 'J v, 
serui . ^ xxvni . uitri cu . xun . bord hnt xvi . car . 
Ibi 11 . molini de xl . solid. ^ xn . ac pti . Silua . 1 .q} 
lg , 3 una la? Valuit . xv . lib . M . xvi . 

Translation. — i( Robert (De Oilgi) holds Berncester for 2 
manors '. There are 15 hides and an half land of 22 caru- 
cates : of which 3 hides are in demesne, wherein are 6 caru> 
cates, and 5 servants and 28 villains, with 14 borderers, and 
they have 16 carucates. There are % mil)s 2 of 40 shillings 
rents, and 1 2 acres of meadow. A wood of one quarrentine 
in breadth and one in length. In the days of King Edward 
it was worth 15/. now 16/, l 

The total change of measures and manners renders it diffi- 
cult to understand the precise meaning of the terms used 
in the survey, and adopted by writers in the following ages. 
Investigation has proved that no definite number of acres can 
be obtained from these loose measures, varying according to 
the custom of the counties. A hide of land, for instance, 
according to Gervaise of Tilbury, is 100 acres ; the Malms - 
bury MS. computes it at ninety-six : but, in the reign of 
Henry III, a hide at Chesterton is reckoned at no more than 
sixty-four acres, and valued at forty shillings 4 , The carucate 
is equally ambiguous, and only signifies as much arable land 
as could be tilled by one plough : according to a computation 



1 Now the manors of Bicester and Wretchwic. 

2 One standing at the bottom of the Water-lane, the other at the north end 
of Mr. Coker's close. 

3 Kennett, p. 65. 

$ Hyde from the Saxon kyo a house or habitation. Kennett's Glossary, 



TENURES, ETC. 23 

made in the twenty-second year of Edward III. it contained 
112 acres, though some charters reckon it at 100, and others 
as low as forty acres. Kennett reckons the quarrentine at 
forty perches, or a furlong 5 . 

The various descriptions of inhabitants are better ascer- 
tained. The servi or peasants were those usually denomi- 
nated pure villains or villains in gross. . These were with- 
out any determinate tenure of lands ; and, at the arbitrary 
pleasure of their lords, appointed to such servile works, and 
for such wages as they chose to give them. They were ab- 
solute slaves in person, issue, and stock ; and might be re- 
moved and sold at pleasure. The villani, or villains regar- 
dant, were of a superior degree, and "held some cottages and 
lands, for which they were burthened at appointed seasons 
with some stated servile work or offices, such as mowing, 
reaping, plowing, sowing, &c. and were conveyed from 
one proprietor to another, as appurtenances of the manor to 
which they belonged 6 . The bordarii, or borderers, were less 
servile in condition than the villains : they had a lord or cot- 
tage, with a small parcel of land, allowed them, on condition 

5 Glossary, art. Carucate, Quarrentine, &.c. 

6 Kennett's Glossary contains the following instances of their persons being 
conveyed with their lands so held in villainage. "William de Longspee con- 
firmed to the Priory of Burcester land in Wrechwike— cum villanis et eorum 
sequelis et catallis (p. 216). So Hamo de Gattone conveyed his lands in 
Wrechwike, cum omnibus villanis eteonun tenementiset sequelis (p. 272); — 
villanos, cum villanagiis omnibus, catallis, et tota sequela ipsorum ; (p. 238); 
— una cum villanis coteivllis, eorum catallis, servitiis, seeds, et sequelis. 
p. 310). In the charter of Gilbert Basset and Egiline his wife to the priory 
of Bicester,— Terram nostram de Votesdun et de Westcote, cum omnibus 
pertinentiis suis, scilicet dominium nostrum cum villanagio (p. 151). He adds, 
this tenure is now extinct, yet the footsteps of it still remain in those custo- 
mary services which are now reserved from some tenants to the lord ; as 
particularly from the tenants of Mr. John Coker, lord of the manor of Bur- 
cester, Kingsend." None of the tenants, however, of the present Mr. Coker 
perform any service, and the nature of the above is now unknown. 



24 INHABITANTS, 

of finding their lord in eggs, poultry, and other trifling articles 
for his board and entertainment. Willis represents them as 
deriving their name from boarding where they worked : 
though in other points he makes them agree with the above 
description. 

Among the villains, the an cilia, or woman servant, was 
also at the entire disposal of the lord. 

Slavery and villainage existed long before the Norman 
conquest, and seem to have increased, if not to have arisen, 
from the perpetual wars during the Heptarchy, and the de- 
predations of the Danes. Prisoners taken in battle, or car- 
ried off in their frequent inroads, were reduced to slavery, 
and became, by right of war, entirely at the disposal of their 
lords 7 . 

The lord of the domain held his lands immediately of the 
king in capite, by military service. By this tenure he was 
required to defend the king and kingdom at the head of his 
vassals ; the grant of the lands being considered as the daily 
pay of the troops, supposed to be in constant readiness for 
service ; and therefore the number of knights' fees in the 
domain was accurately ascertained. In addition, he was 
obliged to attend the king in parliament ; to grant a reason- 
able aid towards the ransom of his sovereign if taken pri- 
soner in war, towards assisting to make his eldest son a knight, 
or to the marrying of his eldest daughter. Nor indeed were 
these the only conditions on which lands were granted, or 
suffered to be enjoyed. Every year the sheriffs were em- 
powered to demand certain trifling payments, to remind the 
vassal that he held them conditionally. If he died and left 
his heir under age, the king, under pretence of acting as 
guardian, immediately took possession of the lands, and re- 



Hume, Appendix, vol. i. p. 163 ; (Edinburgh, 1803). 



TENURES, ETC. 25 

tained the profits, to defray the expense of the education of 
the minor, and of obtaining another person to perform his 
services. If the heir was a female, she was not allowed to 
marry without the king's consent} and was often compelled 
to purchase that consent by payment of a very large sum of 
money. When the heir came of age, and was admitted to 
the possession of the estate, a fine was demanded, called 
relief, because it relieved the lands out of the hands of the 
sovereign, into which they fell at the death of every possessor, 
whether the heir were of age or not. In after times scutage % 
also was another demand to which they were subjected. It 
was a sum of money paid in lieu of actual service in the field, 
by those who were either unable or unwilling to perform that 
service in person, or to provide a substitute 9 . 

Such were the troublesome services and prestations to 
which every man who held lands of the crown was subjected, 
and which every baron constrained his vassals to pay to him- 
self. Thus, every baron was a petty king, and every barony 
a kingdom in miniature. In time of war, the vassals repaired 
to the standard of their lord, and in peace he exercised the 
functions of their judge. " In his court, commonly held in 
his hall, and to which all the tenants owed suit and service, 
he administered justice in person, or by his bailiff, not only 
compelling the payment of debts and the performance of con- 
tracts, but redressing wrongs and punishing crimes, even with 
capita] punishments ; so that herebv the vassals were taught 
to regard their lord as their sovereign, and his will more than 
the laws of their country l0 ." 

The above sketch of the relative state of the king, barons, 
and people, as it existed soon after the conquest, is not onlv 



8 From scutum, a shield. 

9 Henry's Great Britain, vol. vi. p. 11—20, 

10 Ibid. vol. vi. p. 22. 



26 INHABITANTS, 

applicable to the village of Bicester, but is generally descrip- 
tive of the state of the whole kingdom. 

It does not appear that the introduction of the Norman 
government materially affected the inhabitants of Bicester. 
Their lord was the friend of the conqueror, and maintained his 
influence with him till the day of his death : nor is it clear 
that his son-in-law introduced any change. In the disputes 
between King Stephen and the Empress Maud, Brien Fitz- 
count, the superior lord, with his feudatory vassal Gilbert 
Basset, adhered to the empress during every turn of fortune ; 
and on the accession of her son Henry II., they were rewarded 
by the following very important charter of privileges, 2d 
Henry II. 

Translation. — "Henry, by the grace of God King of Eng- 
land and Duke of Normandy, &c. to the bishops, earls, ba- 
rons, justices, and all my ministers and faithful servants, 
French and English, of all England and Normandy, health. 
I command you that all the men and merchants of the Honour 
of Wallingford, that they may enjoy firm peace throughout Eng- 
land and Normandy, wherever they may be. And ye shall know 
me to have given and granted to them in perpetuity all laws 
and customs, well and honourable, as better and more ho- 
nourably they enjoyed them in the time of King Edward, of 
my great-grandfather King William, and the time of my 
grandfather King Henry. I grant to them also, wherever 
they may go with their merchandise, purchases, or articles for 
sale, throughout all my land of England and Normandy, 
Aquitain and Anjou, by water and by land, by wood and by 
strand; they shall be free from tollage, pontage, passage, pic- 
age, pannage, and stallage; in shires and hundreds, and di- 
visions of shires and hundreds ; from aid of the sheriff 11 , and 

11 Bailiffs of sheriffs bad a customary fine to pay them ; from these the men 
of ihe Honour of Wallingforu' were, by this privilege, exempt. 



TENURES, ETC. 2^ 

service of geld and Danegeld I2 , from hidage li , and hlood- 
wite I4 and bredewite 15 , from murders, and various services ap- 
pertaining to murders l6 , and from works of castles, of walls, of 
ditches, of bridges, of footways, and from all customs and secular 
exactions, and servile works IT ; they shall not be molested by 
any law to be made above ten pounds. I prohibit and com- 
mand, that nothing above this be made, lest any thing above 
this vex or disturb. Witness, Theobald Archbishop of Can- 
terbury and others. 

"Dated at Oxford, the first day of June, A. D. 1156." 

This charter was confirmed, and enlarged with many ad- 
ditional privileges, by Henry III. 

The above charter clearly defines the usages and customs 
of the nation before and after the conquest ; and confirms 
the testimony of historians, that almost every crime might 
be compromised by paying a certain sum of money, which 
the injured party and his friends were obliged to accept of as 
a compensation. But it is equally true, that in these and 
subsequent ages, violence frequently prevailed, and the exe- 



12 Geld, a tax. Dane-geld, a tax imposed by the Danes, which was con- 
tinued on extraordinary occasions, for many years after the Conquest. 

x 3 Hidage, a tribute raised on every hide of land. 

** A customary fiue paid as a composition for the shedding or drawing of 
blood. 

"5 A fine arising from any default in the assize of bread. 

16 By the laws of Edward the Confessor, if any person was murdered, the 
murderer was to be apprehended by the fribourg where the body was found, 
and delivered up to justice. If he could not be immediately taken, a respite 
of one month and a day was allowed to the said inhabitants; and if he was 
not then produced, a fine was imposed of furty-six marks, of which sum Hen- 
ry 1. appointed forty marks to be paid to the king, and six to the nearest rela- 
tions of the party murdered. The inhabitants of WalliDgford were exempt 
from this fine. 

17 Either personal labour, or a contribution in money. Kennett's Glos- 
sary. 



28 INHABITANTS, 

cution of the laws was interrupted; so that men were obliged 
to seek their safety in unlawful combinations, examples of 
which are mentioned by Hume. This subject, however, ap- 
pertaining more properly to general than to local history, 
those who wish information respecting it are referred to that 
author, or Dr. Henry. 

From Doomsday Book it is evident the whole of the ma- 
nors of Bicester and Wretchwic belonged to Robert De Oilgi. 
When these were afterwards granted to Gilbert Basset, 
senior, it does not appear that any part of them was alienated ; 
and that they descended to his heirs in the same undivided 
state, for several generations, is evident from an inquisition 
taken of the Honour of Wallingford, A. D. 1212, reciting 
Richard De Camvil as holding seven knight's fees, which 
Kennett makes Bicester, Wretchwic, and Stratton, the origi- 
nal grant. But if these knight's fees contained the whole pa- 
rishes, it is difficult to reconcile two grants the same year to 
Bicester Priory, one of which is expressly said to be by James 
le Bret, lord of Biggenhull, and the other by the prioress and 
nuns of Merkyate, who had a mansion and estate in Bicester ; 
unless we suppose the latter manors were granted by the Bas- 
set family, who still remained superior lords of the fee, and 
that they were h^ld by some unspecified tenure l8 . The other 
names which shortly after occur, as possessing land, &c. are 
Robert Clerk ( A. D. 1214), Robert Fitz- Michael (A. D. 1217), 
and Thomas Brito (A. D. 1222) ; and these are noticed for 
their donations to the priory. But the virgate of land is ex- 
pressly stated as given to Robert Clerk ' 9 for his homage andser- 
vice, a circumstance which goes very far to warrant the conclu- 
sion that the other persons held their lands in the same way. 

A; D. 1245. A sum being laid on every knight's fee, for 



** Kennett, p. 176 & 177. J 9 lb, p. 180. 



TENURES, ETC. 29 

marrying the king's eldest daughter, the prior of Bicester 
Priory paid three marks 20 . 

No better statement can be given of the situation of the 
villains not only in Bicester but throughout the kingdom, as 
it regarded their services, than the following extract from 
an account of the "Tenants, Rents, and Services," within 
the manor of Bicester, in eight parchment folios, taken in 
1325, 1 8- 19th Edward II., now in the possession of John 
Coker, Esq. lord of the manor, and quoted at large in Ken- 
nett's Paroch. Ant. 

Translation. — (( Robert son of Nicholas Germayn holds 
one messuage and half a yard land in villainage, at the will 
of the lady ; and is bound to perform one ploughing in 
winter, and one weeding, and one ivedledrip 2I , at the 
will of the lady, and shall have one meal, and is bound to 
perform one mowing for half a day ; and a whole yard land 
of the same tenure shall have gratuitously at vespers 27 , 
which are called evenyngs, as much of what is mown as a 
mower can lift up with his scythe, and carry home with the 
same ; and half a yard land of the same tenure shall have 
in the evening gratis, with a companion, as much of what 
is mown as a mower can lift up with his scythe and carrv 
home ; and the mower shall have his breakfast from the 
lady prioress: and the said Robert, and all other copyhold 
tenants of the lady, are bound to turn the grass which has 
been gratuitously mowed in the meadow called Gilberdesham, 



20 Kennett, p. 235. 2l 0;ie customary day's work. Gloss, art. Bedrip. 

22 Time of even-song, at which it was presumed he wouid be present. Ken- 
nett observes that the daily claim of a fasrg^t by the wood-cutter is derived 
from these customs; and adds, with true clerical anxiety for the welfare of 
his flock, that it is no better than theft, and ought to be punished accord- 
ingly. Glossary. 



30 INHABITANTS, 

without receiving a dinner, and there to toss up the hay, and 
make it into cocks; and he is bound to carry four cartloads 
of hay to the yard of the prioress, and he shall have one break- 
fast from the lady prioress : and a yard land of the same kind 
shall perform three days work in autumn, to wit, one day's 
work without a dinner, with three men, and one day's work 
without a dinner, with one man ; and if he be a binder, he 
shall have at the said day's work one sheaf of wheat for seed 
of the last wheat that was bound : and he is bound also to 
perform one day's work at the will of the lady, with his whole 
family except his wife, and shall dine with the lady ; and as 
often as the binder has his dinner, he shall not have the sheaf; 
and he is bound to carry four cart-loads of wheat in autumn 
to the manor of the lady, and he shall have one breakfast ; 
and he is bound to be assessed at the feast of St. Michael, at 
the will of the lady prioress; nor is he allowed to sell a male 
horse nor an ox of his own feeding, nor to put Iris son to 
learning, nor to give his daughter in marriage 2? , without 
the permission and will of the prioress : but if the lady pri- 
oress be present, the said Robert shall fetch and carry eat- 
ables and drinkables to the prioress during the time that she 
shall tarry in the county, at her will ; and he shall also pay 
rent per annum, at the four usual times, 2s. 6d. and suit of 
court." 

Under the article Libere Tenentes ad Terminam Vitce 
Cot tag. are the following entries : 

" Matilda le Tallier holds by the court roll one messuage, 
with its curtilege, to the end of her life, and shall pay at the 
four usual feasts 4s. per annum, and suit of court. 

" Isabella Maunde, &c. 2s. John Monkes and Matilda 
his wife, by written indenture, &c. 3s. John Abbot holds 



« What would the present generation of farmers say to these restrictions 



31 

till the end of his life, by the court roll, one acre and one rod 
of land, laying in the fields of Bicester, in five parcels, at 
18^. per annum. 

" Alice, who was the wife of Richard le Grey, cotterel 
and native to the lady, holds one messuage, two acres of land, 
and half an acre of meadow ; and is bound to perform one 
day's weeding, and one day's customary work, and one day's 
haymaking, and to find one man to make hay with the afore- 
said Robert, the son of Nicholas, and to make three custo- 
mary days' work in autumn, without food, and shall pay \2d. 
rent per annum." 

From the above extracts it plainly appears that many of 
the natives, cottars, and villains, were bound to perform their 
various services without food^ or, at least, with only one 
meal from their lords. The land which they held by these 
services was their only wages : but, at the close of harvest, 
they usually had an extra meal or dinner, called the harvest - 
home 24 . On this day all the families of the customary te- 
nants were bound to give their services, except their wives 
and shepherds, the former being supposed to be unable to 
leave the house, and the latter their flocks. This day of re- 
joicing was usually celebrated with singing and feasting ; and 
from this the present custom of keeping harvest-home had 
its origin. Nothing, however, shows their state of bondage 
more conspicuously than the prohibitory clauses relative to 
the marrying of their daughters and the education of their 
sons, both grounded on the fears of the lord lest the chil- 
dren should be unable to perform the stipulated services. 

From the same folios above mentioned it is evident that 
the lords of the manor provided a public bake-house, to which 



** Anno 1293. Homines de Hey.linjrton ad curiam dcmini singulis annis 
inter festum Michaelis et Sti Martini venient cum toto ac p!en.> dyteno sicut 
hactenus consueverunt. Keunett, p. 320. 



32 INHABITANTS, 

every tenant was expected to take his victuals to be dressed, 
where a regular toll was paid: it is entered as follows: — 
<( John the baker, and Christiana his wife, hold to the end of 
their lives, as aforesaid, four houses, with their curtilages, and 
one oven, with customary suit to it, and pay 2s. per annum, 
and suit of court." With the same benevolence they pro- 
vided a mill for grinding corn, and here also a regular toll 
was taken 2S . 

It would appear pretty evident that mechanical professions 
were accounted more honourable than the practice of hus^ 
bandry, since the laws prohibited any man from putting his 
son to any employment except agriculture, unless he possess- 
ed 20s. per annum in land 26 . The very cursory notice made 
in the folios of the persons attached to mechanical professions, 
leaves us ignorant of their state in Bicester ; though we may 
safely conclude they were few in number, very ignorant, and, 
perhaps, inferior in condition to Robert Germyn : indeed, it 
is not improbable the mechanics or tradesmen, described in 
the different rolls, were nothing more than natives of the 
lordship, occasionally exercising such professions on the 
estates. 

It has been already stated that every baron held a court, in 
which petty offences against members of the same fee were 



*s The mill spoken of must not be confounded with the present King's-end 
wind-mill, which was erected by the father of Sir Thomas Grantham, under a 
lease from the great-grandfather of the present Mr. Coker, who has in his 
possession the original lease. 

26 Dr. Henry reckons an estate worth 20s. per annum equivalent to 10Z. at 
present ; and adds, " if any person applied to husbandry work till he was 
twelve years of age, he was not permitted to abandon it, and follow any other 
line of life." He considers this law made on purpose to increase the number 
of labourers, at this time on the decline through the wai - s between the rival 
houses of York and Lancaster. Henry, vol. x, p. 53 & 54. See also p. 171, 
where the statutes 7th Henry IV*. chap. 17, are quoted. 



TENURES, ETC. 33 

tried, and to which it was expected that every villain would 
bring his cause. It is true, they might remove them into the 
king's court : but even there, the villain could obtain no re- 
dress against the impositions of his own lord ; for the indict- 
ment was immediately quashed, on the lord's appearing in 
court, and proving the prosecutor to be his slave : the law 
immediately presuming that, as such, he was incapable of 
possessing property, the lord's power extending over himself 
and all he had, except to the maiming, or taking away his 
life, or ravishing his relations ; yet against all others could 
the villains maintain an action, none beside having any right 
to call them slaves 25 . 

In the court-haron the accounts of the year were usually 
settled, the services of each individual registered, and the 
fines paid. On the first Saturday in August, 1343, one of 
these was herd for Bicester, when the accounts were given 
as follows : 

" William Rede, for himself 2d. with two oxen. 

" Agnes Serich, for herself 3d. and for one ancilla (maid 
servant) with four several beasts. 

" John Cope, for himself 3d. with one turkey {Africano), 

<( Isabella Brown,, for herself 2d. and for one ancilla, 

" Robert Frerehews, for himself 2d. and suit and service to 
the lord with four beasts. 

"William Symms, for himself \d. to drawing corn for the 
lord. 

" Richard Duke 3d. for himself and his servants drawing 
corn for the lord z6 ." 



e 5 Archaeologia, vol. ii. p. 312. 

26 The court-baron is closed by the inquest of the jury, as follows; " In- 
quisitio capta, &c. super sacramentum juratorum qni dicunt, super sacramen- 
tum suum, quod Juliana Hardy, quag tenuit de domino unum messuagium 
et unam virgatam terra? in bondagio, diem clausit extremum, et accidit do- 
mino nova heriota 2 boves pret. 16s. post cuius mortem venit Walterus Hardy, 

D 



34 

In a court-baron held at Wretchwic, the first Saturday in 
August, 1382, after the accounts were given for homage, 
pannage, and other profit to the lord, a by-law was made to 
reinforce all former orders for the regulation of huntings 
under the penalty of 2s. fine for every offence ; and (i where- 
as the tenants' bees had been disturbed by the huntsmen, no 
further molestation should be given, under the penalty of 
forfeiting Ad. for such trespass." 

Anciently there was also a court held by the lords of the 
Honour of Wallingford ; but, on the attainder of John 
de la Pole, Earl of Lincoln, for rebellion against Henry VII., 
his manor of Ewelm escheating to the crown, it was by Hen- 
ry VIII. constituted an honour, by the annexation of several 
manors, among which was Wallingford 27 . It is therefore 
probable that the lords of Ewelm assumed all the privileges 
connected with the demesnes thus annexed 5 and that they 
deputed their steward, bailiff, and others, to hold the courts 
of the Honour of Wallingford. At Bicester (a part of that 
honour) it was customary to hold this court on Easter Mon- 
day ; and those inhabitants who neglected to attend it were 
usually fined one penny, or summoned to Ewelm. This 
court has been discontinued for many years, and tradition 

et dat domino de fine 66s. 8d. pro licentia ingrediendi et tenendi praedic- 
ta messuagia et terram in bondagio, secundum consuetudinem manerii, 
reddendo et faciendo opera similia sicut prsedicta Juliana solebat facere, et 
fecit domino fidelitatem, et cepit pleg. de fine, &c. Item dicunt, &c. quod Hugo 
King et alii de Wrechwyke vendiderunt arbores in gardinis suis, sine licen- 
tia domini, &c. de csefero non vendant sub poena 12d., &c. Item dicunt &c. 
quod Richard us Syrech, Robcrtus Hardy, et Johannes Prynce, Hugo Page, 
et Johannes Page, extraxerunt bona sua extra dornum domini, &c. 

"Memorand. quod die Dominica in festo St. Andreas Apos. 17 £d. III. om- 
nis status de Wrechwyke elegerunt Hugonem Kyng ad officium propositi, et 
juramentum suscepit." Kennett, p. 456. 

The propositus (bailiff) appears evidently to have been elected by the men of 
Wrechwic,to do all the offices of equity between the lord and his tenants. Gloss, 

2 ' Magna Britannia, vol. iv. 



TENURES, ETC. 35 

ascribes that circumstance to a Mr. Howlet (circa 1769), 
who discovered it to be illegal. 

A. D. 1425. Notwithstanding the scarcity of inns and pub' 
lie houses throughout the kingdom, it is evident some of these 
existed at this time in Bicester ; for, in the bursar's accounts, 
3d Henry VI., we find the names of (i Joan Spinan, Alice Be- 
dale, and other innkeepers," who sold to the convent " 132 
flaggons of beer for 45. \0d 28 ." 

After the commencement of the fifteenth century, a happy 
change took place in the condition of the lower orders of the 
people. The wars between the houses of York and Lancas- 
ter had greatly thinned the population, and the proprietors 
of estates found that the slaves, who laboured for them, and 
not for themselves, were often very stubborn, untractable, 
and indolent ; so that, by degrees, they discovered that their 
work could be performed better and cheaper by hired servants. 
The manumission of the slaves had, in many instances, been 
effected by the necessity of arming them, and the feudal laws 
admitted no slave to bear arms. The clergy, too, often im- 
posed the liberation of the slaves as a species of penance for 
certain failings. Time also convinced the landholder that 
his estates would be better cultivated, if the villain had an 
immediate interest in the produce ; and that the raiser of the 
same would be better able to dispose of it than the lord or his 
steward. Hence arose the practice of receiving rents instead 
of services and produce. The granting of leases, which af- 
terwards followed, completely emancipated the villain 29 ; so 
that, by the reign of Elizabeth, a celebrated writer observes, 



86 Kennett's Glossary, p. 574. At this period public inns were very rare; 
travellers were usually entertained at religious houses for three days together, 
if occasion served : and indeed many spent their lives in travelling from one 
convent to another: — in this case their well-meant hospitality became a nur- 
sery for idleness. 

« Henry's Hist. Brit. vol. x. p. 54. 

r»2 



36 INHABITANTS, 

no persons existed to whom the former laws relatively ap 
plied 3 °. 

The clergy and monks, under the stale pretence of pre 
serving the church revenues, were the last to practise what 
they recommended to others : hence, villains were found on 
ecclesiastical and monastic estates, long after they had disap- 
peared from every other. On some they existed at the Dis- 
solution, and passed to the lay grantees of the property to 
which they were annexed ; and I have no doubt that this was 
the case with those on the estate belonging to the prioress of 
Merkyate, in Bicester. Hence, though they had long before 
obtained their freedom in other respects, Kennett mentions 
the tenants of Mr. John Coker, then lord of the manor, as 
continuing, in 1695, to perform certain stated services. 

In ancient times, when every person on an estate was con- 
sidered as a part of the family of the lord, and dependent on 
him for protection and support, it was his interest to allow 
his vassals the greatest privileges compatible with their situa- 
tion. Hence, there were few or none of them who had not 
some small portion of land attached to their cottages, which 
they cultivated either after they had performed their custo- 
mary day's work, or in the days that intervened. Most of 
them had cattle of some kind, and were permitted to turn 
them out to feed on the waste lands belonging to the lordship, 
or on the common fields after the removal of the produce. 
But, after their manumission, they lost all claims to these pri- 
vileges. Their wages were thenceforth considered as their onLy 
means of support; though, as they m most instances con- 



s'' Hume's Hist. En°r. vol. ii. p. 215. Henry VIII. granted a manumission 
(1514) to two of his slaves, and their families; for which he assigns this rea- 
son*: " Ood at first creeled ail men equally free by nature, but that many bad 
been reduced to sjavefv by the laws of men. We believe it therefore to be a 
pious act, and meritorious in the sight of God, to set certain of our slaves at 
liberty from their bondage." Rytner, vol. xii. p. 470. Smith's Republic, p. ICO, 



TENURES, ETC. 3 J 

tinued to reside on the manor, the freedom of commonage was 
winked at till the practice of inclosing began to prevail. And 
great as have been the advantages derived from the reformation 
of religion, it was attended with many immediate evils. It in- 
creased the number of poor, while it diminished the means of 
providing for their maintenance ; and hence poo?' laws were 
found necessary. The retrenchment of numerous holidays in- 
deed afforded opportunities for additional exertion; but it is 
clear that civil liberty upon the whole tended rather to depress 
than raise their pecuniary circumstances. The majority no 
longer kept a cow or a pig upon the common, or even poultry 
in their yard; their labour was barely sufficient for their support, 
and wages did not keep pace with the rise of provisions. In- 
cisures thinned the number of the farmers also ; and though 
some were elevated, others were thrust into the lowest walks 
of life, so that their children were blended in its meanest 
ranks. The classes of peasant and farmer, which formerly 
approached each other, became widely separated,-— distress 
and poverty took up its abode in the cottage, while luxury and 
pride retired to the farm-house. 

These observations have anticipated those which would 
have arisen from the conveyance of the manor of Bicester 
Market-end with its royalties and appurtenances, by the Earl 
of Derby, (A. D. 1596) to T. Wykins and T. Clements, for the 
term of 10,000 years to come, the particulars of which will be 
hereafter given. Previous to that event, the greatest part of 
the township belonged to the lord of the manor; but, after the 
execution of that deed, the estate was divided, and sold in se- 
parate lots; so that, though the above-mentioned gentlemen 
and others afterwards obtained a release, together with a 
conveyance of the reversion in fee at the expiration of the 
10,000 years, many of the different estates continue at pre- 
sent to be held on the original lease, and the tenure is from 
that circumstance usually denominated Derby-hold. 

30th Geo. II. The act of parliament, in 1757, for the in- 



38 INHABITANTS-, 

closure of Bicester-field, states that Sir Edward Turner is seiz- 
ed of great part of the land, and of the patronage to the church; 
John Princep, the vicar, as having right to the small tithes ; 
the chancellor, masters, and scholars of Oxford, as trustees 
for the professor of physic ; the trustees of the poor in the pa- 
rish of Bicester; the tithing-man for the time being; John 
Pardoe, Esq. John Cook, Jasper Robins, William Roberts, 
William Blake, Ann Wilson, Sarah Box, William Humphrey, 
William Tanner, John Walker, Edward Lock, Mary Horn, 
Robert Maynard, John Major, Thomas Allen, Daniel Hor- 
wood, James Nixon, Thomas Slater, and divers others, land- 
owners, having all right of common, at stated times, and by 
a determined stint. 

The act also describes William Shillingford, Richard Kirby, 
John Barker, John Hicks, William Rolls, Dorothy Harris, 
Thomas Eyles, Jacob Thomas, Matthew Clarke, John Ring, 
and others, as having right to commonage, in virtue of being 
owners of certain cottages or tenements 31 . 

To all and each of these a certain proportionate quantity 
of land was directed to be assigned, as near to their dwelling 
as possible ; or else a sum of money was to be paid, equiva- 
lent to the advantages relinquished. These lands were there- 
after exempted from all common pasture, estovers, &c. 

Land was also assigned to Sir Edward Turner as rector 
impropriate, in lieu of all tithes and dues of corn, grass, hay, 
wood, &c. anciently claimed in the common field, the in- 
closed lands being directed to be discharged of the same. 

A parcel of ground was allotted to the vicar, as a compo- 
sition for small tithes, which he was henceforward to relin- 
quish : and, in consequence, the proprietors of the several 
lands, ancient messuages, and tenements, who were subject 
to the payment of rectorial and vicarial tithes, were bound to 

3 1 These last mentioned enjoyed a "cottage common, viz. for great cattle 
only," and this right did not extend over the meadows of Town Langford and 
Swansnest. Act of Pari, p, G. 



TENURES, ETC, 39 

fence and maintain the quickset hedges for nine years from 
the time of inclosure ; these lands, cottages, or tenements, 
hereby becoming discharged of all tithes or moduses. But 
these allotments were neither to prevent the vicar from having 
tithe in ancient inclosed lands, messuages, cottages, gardens, 
mills, woods, under-woods, furze grounds, or parcels of land, 
whereof the owners had no right of common in the inclosed 
field; nor to lessen the title to oblations, mortuaries, or Eas- 
ter offerings, or surplice fees, arising out of the town of Bi- 
cester : nor to defeat or lessen the title or right of Sir Edward 
Turner to the tithe of the ancient inclosed lands, as rector 
impropriate, 

Special clauses are introduced, that nothing may prevent 
* ( or lessen the right of every person or persons whomsoever, 
having title or interest, with workmen, labourers, horses, 
teams, carts, or carriages, to come, go, be, pass, and repass, in, 
over, and upon all or any part of the meadow or pasture, called 
the Mortar-pits, at all times, for digging and taking away 
mortar \ x ' "or on a certain piece of land, called the Stone-* 
pit-piece, for digging and taking away stone at all times, in 
as full and ample manner as before the passing of the act/' 

The act closes by providing that the lords of any and every 
manor within the limits of the field are to enjoy the same 
privileges, of courts, rents, and services, as appertained to 
them before ; and that nothing shall be construed to the da- 
mage of the king and his heirs 32 . 

Thus terminated the right of commonage enjoyed by the 
inhabitants of the Market-end. The inclosed lands were cer- 
tainly improved in value, but many of the poorer inhabitants 
were ultimately considerable losers, since the sum received in 
compensation was gradually dissipated, and the privilege gone 
for ever. The expenses of inclosures could not be defrayed 
by others, and these also were obliged to sell ; so that the 

32 Act of Parliament, p. 19. 



40 INHABITANTS, 

evil fell upon those least able to bear it. It is not meant to 
insinuate that any imposition was practised ; but in all great 
changes, the poorer orders of society are certain of being suf- 
ferers^ their circumstances not allowing them to benefit by 
the proffered advantage. 

Having thus stated the gradual changes in the relative si- 
tuation of certain classes of society, it only remains to be ob- 
served, that it is of late years the farmers have attained a high 
rank in life. A writer pertinently remarks, (( in the year 
1750 farmers' daughters carried butter and eggs to market, 
in green Josephs, fastened round with a leathern girdle ; now 
they wear riding-habits and plumes of feathers 33 : but if such 
was their state in 1784; we may notice the steps they have 
advanced since that time. Their perverted education (consist- 
ing usually of music, dancing, and drawing,) has swelled them 
into the courtly misses : the dairy is now abandoned ; they 
have their suppers, balls, and parties : and we may shortly 
expect to see the convenient farm-house turned into a modem 
villa : instead of the careful house-wife, attending her busi- 
ness, and the wants of her family, find that the lady of' the 
mansion must be spoken with in her drawing-room." 

Anno 33d Geo. III. The bill which afterwards passed into 
an act for the inclosure of King's-end field, stated, that the 
arable, meadow, lay, pasture, and waste lands contained by 
computation about 1200 acres' 4 : that John Coker, Esq. lord 
of the manor, was seized of a considerable part of the above 
lands, together with part of the tithe of corn, hay, and grain, 
growing and renewing yearly within the same field : that Sir 
Gregory P. Turner, Bart, as rector impropriate of Bicester, 
was seized of certain glebe lands, and entitled to the remain- 
der of the above great tithes : that Joseph Eyre, in right of 
the vicarage of the said parrsh- church, was seized of some 

33 Gentleman's Magazine, 1784. 

3* According to Young's Agricultural Report, p. 91, the field contained 
1400 acres in cultivation, and 100 of common. 



TENURES, ETC. 41 

glebe lands, and entitled to all the small tithes growing and 
arising within the township of Bicester King's-end ; and that 
Dame Elizabeth Dashwood, widow of the late Sir James 
Dash wood, Bart, was seized of the remainder of the said open 
and commonable arable, meadow, lay, and pasture land. 
That these lands of the several proprietors, lying intermixed 
and subject to the right of commonage, were inconvenient, 
and incapable of improvement, in their present state ; they 
therefore prayed the authority of parliament to effect an in- 
closure of the said lands, which was accordingly granted. 

By the act three gentlemen who are described as quality 
men were appointed to survey, divide, and allot the said field 
among the above proprietors, according to the extent and 
quality of their respective estates \ and they were provided 
with ample powers for the sale or exchange of any portion of 
the common that might be necessary to carry the act into 
effect, and connect the several parts of each estate. These 
commissioners were directed, in the first place, to mark out 
such public and private roads, ditches, fences, drains, gates, 
stiles, &c. as might seem requisite ; so as that each public 
carriage road should be at least forty feet in breadth between 
the fences ; the same to be made at the sole expense of the 
person through whose land it might be, within two years from 
the passing of the act. They were further directed to allot 
sufficient parcels of the inclosed land for stone or gravel-pits, 
so that there might be no deficiency of materials at any time 
for making and repairing the public roads in the township. 

Land was also appropriated to the lord of the manor from 
the commonable land, in compensation for right of soil, tithe* 5 , 

35 It may be curious to trace the history of the great tithes in King's-end 
field, a memorandum is therefore submitted. An unknown benefactor be- 
stowed tbem on Kirtlington parish church: that church and the tithe were 
given to a Cisteitian Abbey, at Aulney in Normandy. The abbot of that 
place alienated the church of Kirtlington and its appurtenances, for the rent 
of 40s. per annum, to the prior and convent of Bicester. At the Dissolution 
they passed into the hands of the king, who granted them to Roger Moore, 



42 INHABITANTS, TENURES, ETC, 

&c. to which he was before entitled. To the rector and 
vicar, such other parts of the field as should compensate for 
their several yearly tithes, as well from the field, as from such 
tenements, gardens, inclosures, &c. as are within the town- 
ship. In those cases where the owners or proprietors of cot- 
tages were found not entitled to lands or common right in the 
fteld, yearly rents were to be assigned, which were directed to 
be paid to the vicar, up to the day of his death, or removal. 
A special proviso, however, was introduced, to preserve the 
vicar's right and title to mortuaries, Easter offerings, and 
surplice fees, as they became due within the township. 

The act further proceeds by directing the glebe land to be 
inclosed at the expense of John Coker and Dame E. Dash- 
wood; securing the title of deeds or settlements on any of the 
estates ; settling the titles of claimants tp trees, fences, &c. ; 
allowing the vicar to borrow money to carry the in closure 
into effect ; and closes by securing the rights of the lord of 
the manor. 

The advantage accruing both to the farmer and landholder 
from inclosures is confessedly very great, though it is impos- 
sible to state the amount of the advance of land, either in Bi- 
cester or King's-end-field, without access to a rent-roll. If 
any reliance may be placed on the agricultural report of Mr. 
Arthur Young, it would seem that rents were trebled at Bi- 
cester, and that at the time of his writing, land was generally 
let from 205. to 25.?. per acre ?6 . 



Esq. from whom they passed by marriage to the Blounts, and were finally sold. 
by them to the ancestors of Mr. Coker. 

s 6 The same writer says that Mr. Coker is against leases, and never gives 
tbem ', as they tell the farmer when he may begin systematically to exhaust the 
farm. In this rich country no great expenses are wanted in improvement, 
and if draining is necessary, Mr. Coker is at half the expense. — I^owevti" 
since the publication of that work, Mr. C. has granted short leases. 



ABSTRACT 

OF 

RETURNS FOR THE EXPENSE AND MAINTENANCE 
OF THE POOR. 

m ■ 

King's- end. Market- end. 
a£. s. d. a£. s. d. 

Money raised by poors' rate and other 
rates, ending Easter 1803, within 
theyear 112 17 5 1281 13 10| 

Average assessments in the year 1783, 

1784, and 1785 3g 1 8 567 1 3 

Ditto 1776 36 3 7 296 8 10 

At what rate in the pound, 1803 .. 1 6 6 

Money expended out of work-houses, 

1803. .. 106 10 953 6 44 

In ditto 1803 233 10 2 

Money expended in suits of law, re- 
moval of paupers, and expenses of 
overseers and other officers. .. 1 12 9 47 6 Q 

Total of expenditure of the poor, 1803.107 13 7 1239 3 4 

Ditto ditto in 1776. 35 10 3 236 2 2 

Do. average 1783, 1784, and 1785.. 34 3 6 534 13 8 

Expenditure for other purposes, church- 
rate, county-rate, militia, high- 
ways, &c 5 3 10 22 12 10J 

Total expenditure 1803 .. .. 112 17 5 126l 16 2 

Money earned by the poor out of the 

work-house, 1 803 3 1 7 6 

In work-house 31 4 3 

King s- end. Market-end, 
Number of persons permanently relieved 

out of work-house 15 $7 

In the work-house, permanently relieved. . 27 

Children relieved under 5 years of age. . 3 21 

From 5 to 14 out of the house. ... 10 30 
No. of persons occasionally out of the 

house 4 7/ 

No. of persons included in the preceding 

columns above 60 years of age, or 

disabled from labour 5 29 

No. relieved not being parishioners. . . 3 180 
Benefit societies holding their meetings 

in this place. .......... 2 

No. q£ members , , 119 



44 



POPULATION 



The following Table shows the number of houses and inha- 
bitants in Bicester in the years 1801 and 181 1^ as stated in 
the parliamentary returns of these two periods. 



Houses. 


Occupations. Persons. 


1801. 


Inha- 
bited. 

44 
.364 


U n in- 
habi- 
ted. 


iSo.oi 
Fami- 
lies. 


Buil- 
ding. 


Agri- 
cult. 


Trade 
and 
ma- 

uufc. 


Not 
inclu- 
ded in 
these 
class. 


Males 


fe- 
males 


Total 
Per- 
sons. 


Bicester 
King's-end. 

Market- end. 


1 
5 


48 

461 


3 


pers. 
112 

811 


pers. 
80 

826 


pers. 
4 

113 


103 

837 


'93 
913 


196 
1750 




408 


6 


449 


923 


906 


H7 


940 


1006 

113 
1035 


1946 


1811. 

Bicester 
King's-end. 

Market-end. 


47 
337 
414 


4 

4 


60 
438 


tamil. 
33 

193 


rainil. 

22 

215 


famil. 
5 

84 


112 
886 


225 
1921 




498 


3 


1/2 


237 


89 


998 


1148'2146 



CHAPTER VI. 
Origin of Parish Churches. 

The first missionaries who laboured among the Anglo-Saxons 
commenced their work in the courts of the different monarchs, 



PARISH CHURCHES. 45 

and were generally rewarded by the conversion of the royal 
family, and the principal courtiers. Personal attentions, and 
munificent grants, naturally followed, and stimulated their 
exertions among the inferior inhabitants. But, in general, 
the missionaries of the different kingdoms took up their resi- 
dence in the capitals, and formed themselves into commu- 
nities for the purpose of advancing each other in religious 
knowledge, and instructing the youth who were to succeed 
them in their sacred calling. From these societies, which 
afterwards assumed the pompous titles of chapters and ca- 
thedrals, the bishop regularly dispatched the different mem- 
bers, to dispense the offices of religion among the distant con- 
verts. And such was their estimation among the people, that 
no sooner did they appear in the streets, or on the high-ways, 
than the multitude swarmed around them, showing them every 
possible mark of respect, and receiving their words as those 
of an oracle. To facilitate the exercise of devotion, auxiliary 
churches were erected, and a few of these scattered through 
extensive districts offered the only means of worship. The 
public inconvenience of attending them was severely felt; 
but, as Christianity gained ground among the people, and 
was embraced by the lords of vast domains, the latter en- 
deavoured to procure churches on their own estates. In 
their application to the bishops for this purpose, they plead- 
ed their unwillingness that their tenants and slaves should 
neglect public worship, and their inability to permit their 
absence for the time their journeys to distant churches de- 
manded. Their petition was granted, on their settling a 
sufficient endowment for the maintenance of a priest. This 
endowment usually consisted of a certain portion of land, 
of slaves to till the glebe, and of oblations made by the te- 
nants. The churches were in general founded by the owners 
of the lordship, who, in consequence, became the patrons, 
obtained the right of presentation, and were allowed a seat 



46 



ORIGIN OF 



Within the rails of the chancel. When this was not tht 
case, the priest built them out of the oblations of the neigh- 
bourhood, and the lay patrons endowed the living, the ex*- 
tent of whose lands formed the boundaries of the parish. 
As population increased, and these large domains were divided, 
the same objections applied to the parish church as were for- 
merly advanced against the auxiliary. The same precautions 
for the perpetual maintenance of a pastor were taken, and 
another place of worship erected : but it differed from the 
former in many respects. The lands of both were granted in 
pure and perpetual alms, he. with all the advantages of a 
free and independent tenure, without burden or reserved rent; 
but the former was considered the Mother Church, and at 
stated festivals the whole of the parishioners were required to 
attend divine service therein r . Even when Cuthbert, tenth 
archbishop from Austin, obtained the privilege of hurying- 
grounds (A. D. 758) being attached to churches, the privilege 
did not extend to these chapels of ease, and for many centu- 
ries the dead were constantly brought for interment to the 
mother church. A part of the church also was allotted for 
the use of those who attended the chapels, and was usually 
distinguished by che name of the hamlet. They were also re- 
quired to contribute a certain sum towards defraying the re- 
pairs of the church ; and there is no doubt these usages were 
continued in many places until the Reformation 2 . 

In the time of Augustine, the tithes of all parishes were di- 
vided into four parts, of which one part was applied to the 
support of the bishop, a second to the clergy, a third to the 



1 Collier's Ecclesiastic?.! History, vol. i. p. 229-230 ; Lond. 1703. 

*- Kennett, p. 585-596. A convincing proof that the inhabitants of Stratton- 
At^Jley anciently brought their dead to the burying-ground of Bicester will 
be found in the annals of the priory, A.D. 1425, in which the parishioners 
were fined for the illegal burial of two corpses in their chapel. 



PARISH CHURCHES. 4f 

poor, and a fourth to the repair of the church. These were 
originally collected by the itinerant priests, or those at the 
head of the rural deanery, and were paid to the bishop to 
form a common fund for himself and the clergy who lived with 
him, or were sent abroad. When the cathedrals were en- 
dowed, however, the bishops gave up their claim to the fourth 
part ; and in the time of Alfred, the whole tithes were finally 
appropriated to the priests, the poor, and for the repair of the 
churches. In those manors where no churches were built, the 
lords were permitted to receive the tithes as trustees, and, when 
they were erected on the estates in after ages, reserved the 
two parts (viz. for the poor and repairs of the church) to them- 
selves. The clergy, however, regarded these privileges with 
envy ; and, by their persuasion, they were settled on some re- 
ligious house, or resigned to the parish priest, yet still charged 
with these uses, and not as absolute property. The innova- 
tion of ages has totally changed the application ; but hence 
came the practice, and depends the custom, of the rector or 
impropriator maintaining the chancel J . 

We have a very full and ample proof of this in a deed quoted 
by Kennett, Par. Ant. p. 59, which contains a donation of the 
above-mentioned two parts of the tithe of the parishes of Bur- 
chester and Wretchwic, with those of Blechingdon, Weston, 
Bucknell, Ardulfley, Northbrook, &c. by Robert D'Oilgi, 
A. D. 1083, to the church of St. George, which he had lately 
built in the castle of Oxford, and endowed for a fraternity of 
secular priests. On the building of Osney Abbey, the whore 
of the endowment was transferred thither, and the monks 
continued to receive the tithes of Bicester and the adjoining 
hamlets, till they were assigned to Bicester Priory, in consi- 
deration of an annual payment of 60s. A. D. 1299. 

3 Kennett, p. 79-80. 



48 FIRST PARISH CHURCH 



CHAPTER VII. 

First Parish Church in Bicester, 

Ijede having asserted that "many churches were built and 
endowed by Birinus," among the West Saxons, after Chris- 
tianity was planted in that kingdom, Kennett justly concludes 
that it is highly probable one of these was founded at Bicester, 
both on account of its distance from the cathedral of Dor- 
chester, and the security it was likely to derive from the 
fortress. This opinion will receive additional strength from 
the circumstance of the situation of the present edifice, if it 
be granted that the old town of Berncestre stood in King's- 
end, and partly in the close of Mr. Coker x , and that the pa- 
rish burying-ground has never been changed. It is also pro- 
bable that it was one of the auxiliary churches, from its having 
been the head of the rural deanery, and a mother church, 
from remote antiquity, and that the original structure was af- 
terwards converted into the parish church, on a sufficient en- 
dowment being appointed for a priest by the lord of the 
manor. That the glebe lands were his gift appears certain 
from his retaining the two parts of the tithes till they were 
bestowed on St. George's Church in the castle of Oxford, 
A. D. 1083. Though we have no precise data for ascertain- 
ing the form or materials of the original church of Bicester 2 , 
recent discoveries have placed it beyond doubt that the pre- 
sent edifice has been constructed out of the remains of some 



1 Many of the foundations of the old town remain in Mr. Coker's close. 

2 Many of the first churches in Britain were constructed of wattles ; and 
even after the Conquest, some historians make mention of wooden churches, 



IN BICESTER. 49 

former church, built of stone, and decorated with carved or- 
naments. In common with others, we may presume that 
the windows were glazed with horn, and the dim light trans- 
mitted through its narrow windows shed an awful gloom 
through the place, rendering candles necessary at noon-day. 
Ancient canons ordained that the image of the saint to whom 
the edifice was dedicated should be fixed in the church, or a 
portrait of him painted on the wall, or on a tablet, and hung 
over the altar, inscribed with the name and the time of the 
foundation ? . The patron saint we may fairly presume to 
have been St. James, from the most ancient fair having been 
kept on that day 4 . The additional ornaments of the altar 
were the crucifix, Mary, and John. The whole body of the 
church was left open for the people indiscriminately to stand or 
kneel at their devotions, the lay-patron alone having a place 
allotted to him within the rails of the chancel. Whether any 
persons of note were buried within its walls we have no means 
of ascertaining ; but the presumption is against that belief, 
as these would prefer the church of the adjoining monastery. 

Kennett represents the church as having originally stood at 
the north end of Sheep-street, and states that the present 
edifice was built about the latter end of the fourteenth or the 
fifteenth century, when the older structure was demolish- 
ed. This opinion he founds on an old writing, which re- 
cites that, in 1406, John Gybbes of Watlington released 
all right and claim in a certain tenement of Bicester, 
nigh the church-yard, opposite the priory gate, &c. This 
(says he) proves the removal before this time, unless we sup- 

3 Kennett, p. 609, quot. Spelman, torn. I. p. 318. 

* "At Burcester the wake is observed on the Sunday following the festival of 
St. James, and a fair is there kept on the said festival, and on the two days .im- 
mediately before and after ; which is a good argument, though other authorities 
be wanting, that the old parish church of Bicester was dedicated to St. James, 
as the new chureh might be to St. Edburg, patron of the convent." Ken. p. 612. 

E 



pO THE FIRST PARISH CHURCH IN BICESTER. 

pose the cocmeterium parochiale was distinct from the old 
church, on which the new one was afterwards built. 

In what way the sums necessary for building this fabric 
were raised, or who were the chief contributors to the under- 
taking, are points alike unknown. According to tradition, 
the tower was originally intended to have been erected near 
the present chancel (and the massive thickness of the walls 
seems to countenance the statement) ; but that the design 
was relinquished by the generous offer of the vicar to build a 
tower at the west end, at his own expense, which he after- 
wards carried into effect ; and the present structure attests 
his taste and liberality 5 . 

It is not improbable that this parish anciently included 
many of the surrounding villages, which afterwards became 
separate parishes, and acquired authority over their own ham- 
lets. Stratton-Audley for a number of ages was attached to 
and dependent upon Bicester, as its mother church, and the 
vicar's chaplain performed the offices of devotion in that 
chapel. No burials were permitted, but the dead were uni- 
formly brought to Bicester; and when, in 1425, the chaplain 
presumed to inter there one of the inhabitants, the prior and 
convent sued and recovered damages of the village. Nor do 
I read of its ever being able to assume independence till after 
the Reformation. 

The high antiquity of a chaplain, as attached to the parish 
priest of Bicester, may be gathered from an ancient deed con- 
firming the hermitage and chapel of St. Cross, at Muswell, 
to the church of Missenden, A. D. 1106, bearing date 7th 
Henry I., and signed "William the elder priest of Bicester, 
with William his chaplain." 

5 If there is any foundation for the tradition, it is not unlikely the build- 
ing of the fabric was considerably advanced, either before the proposal was 
made, or the original design relinquished, which, from the appearance of the 
semicircular arches, was cruciform. 



DEANERY OF BICESTER. 51 

The presentation belonged to the lords of the manor till 
the foundation of the monastery by Gilbert Basset, when 
the church was conveyed by charter to the prior and canons, 
who henceforth became its patrons and annexed it to the 
priory. As little more can be collected than the bare names 
of the vicars, it is intended to mention their appointment, 
under the various priors who succeeded to the government of 
the monastery. 



CHAPTER VIII. 
Deanery of Bicester. 

It is not known at what time rural deaneries were first insti- 
tuted, but they were probably copied from secular divisions. 
The office of the dean was to receive complaints, inquire into 
grievances, to stay personal suits on offer of compensation, 
and to inflict the lesser censures of the church. They had at 
first the decision of all testamentary and matrimonial causes, 
and were assisted by a chapter formed of the neighbouring 
clergy ; but their office was at last usurped by the archdeacon, 
and became nominal as early as the reign of Edward I., 
though the title is still preserved f. 

The antiquity of the Deanery of Bicester extends beyond 
any authorities extant, and probably is nearly coeval with the 
introduction of Christianity into these parts. It originally 
consisted of ten churches : but in after ages the two dean- 
eries of Kirtlington and Islip being added, together with the 



1 Kennett, p. 632—655. 

e2 



52 THE AUGUSTINE ORDER. 

church of Ambrosden % in the deanery of Cuddesdon, the 
number was augmented ; and, according to Willis^ it now con- 
tains the following churches, viz, Ambrosden, Audley, Blech- 
ingdon, Burchester, Bucknell, Chalton, Chesterton, Kirt- 
lington, Finmore, Frinkford, Fritwell, Goddington, Hamp- 
ton-poyle, Hampton-gay, Hardwick, Heyford-old-pontem, 
Heyford-warren, Hethe, Islip, Launton, Lillingston-Lovel, 
Merton, Marston, Middleton, Mixbury, Newton-Purcel, Od- 
dington, Stratton-Audley, Somerton, Stoke-lyne, Tusmore, 
Wendlebury, and Weston. 

The seal of the Deanery of Bicester was found among the 
ruins of Alchester, and is described as containing the im- 
press of a pelican standing on a font or pedestal, opening 
her breast with her bill, and feeding a brood of young-ones 
with her blood. The form of it was oblong-oval \ and round 
the margin, near the extremity, was the inscription " S. De- 
cani Berencestre K" 



CHAPTER IX. 

The Augustine Order, 

TL he Augustine Order derived their origin from the saint 
whose name they afterwards assumed ; and though their found- 
er drew up no rules for the particular government of a commu- 
nity, but simply made the Scriptures his guide, his followers 



* Kennett remarks, that " at the time of the taxation under King Edward I., 
the church of Ambrosden still continued under the deanery of Cuddesdon, 
but at the election of a new see at Oxford, or near that time, was transferred 
to the deanery of Bicester." p. 632. It is not known whether the three 
deaneries of Kirtlington, Islip, and Bicester, were united. 

3 Kennett, p. 632. 



THE AUGUSTINE ORDER. 53 

contrived to extract the following regulations from his works, 
which they bound every brother and novitiate to observe l . 

I. That no man call any thing his own, but have all things 
in common — that to all be distributed according to their 
wants — that those who were poor abroad, do not go haughty, 
nor those who were wealthy despise the poor — that none have 
any property, or take care for food or raiment, but give all 
he has to the poor — that none be admitted without trial — and 
if any depart the monastery, to carry nothing away with him. 

II. After prescribing the service of the church, the Canons 
are enjoined to work from the morning to the ninth hour, 
and read from the sixth hour to the ninth — when they must 
go abroad, it must be by two-and-two, and not to have any 
idle discourse. 

III. They are enjoined the love of God, and of their neigh- 
bour — to be all of one mind — to be present at prayer at the 
appointed hour — to subdue the flesh by fasting — to listen to 
what is read at dinner, nor to grudge what is allowed to 
others who are sickly, or of a weak constitution — not to be 
affected in apparel — not to do any thing which may give of- 
fence — not to gaze on women — not to conceal any thing 
that is given them — to take care of the sick — if they should 
revile one another, to beg pardon — the person offended to 
forgive. — They are enjoined obedience to superiors — the su- 
perior not to be presumptuous 2 . 

Their dress consisted of a black mantle for an outer cover- 
ing, which reached down to their feet, was open, and much 
like a cloak with a hood to cover the head, but had no sleeves ; 



1 They bore the common name of tl monk " till the eleventh century ; but 
having become extremely lax in their rules, a council at Rome, after con- 
demning simony and keeping of concubines, ordained the clerks should 
lodge and live together, and put into a common stock what they received 
from the church. Stevens's Dugdale, vol. ii. p. 64, 65. 

* Stevens's Dugdale, vol. ii. p. 126, 



■> 



54 THE AUGUSTINE ORDER. 

they wore beneath this an amice, originally made of skins or 
serge, which covered the shoulders, and hung down to the 
middle of the back. Under these they wore an alhe, made 
much like a surplice, reaching below their knees, but the 
sleeves were narrow ) when it only reached the knees, it was 
called a rochet. 

They covered their heads at first with scull-caps, worn on 
the hood of the mantle; afterwards their caps were made wider 
at the top than the bottom, but still round and flat. About 
500 years ago they were made square, all of wool, having as 
it were four horns, which appeared but little outwardly. 

Such were the rules and dress of the black canons l of the 
Order of St. Augustine. Their rules embraced the three vows 
of poverty, chastity, and obedience, with occasional voluntary 
penance, in common with the other Orders. And however, at 
this enlightened period, men of different persuasions may feel 
inclined to deride their fastings, flagellations, and other acts 
of mortification, they may be abundantly defended by the 
tenets and practice of the church for many ages preceding the 
establishment of this order. Their dress is liable to no more 
exceptions than the present dress of the clergy, or the uniform 
costume of alms-houses or charity-schools. Their rules are 
generally drawn from the Scriptures : and though, in a few 
cases, they may appear rather strained or misapplied, surely 
none but the fastidious will conceive themselves justified in 
condemning them. 



s The "black canons" were so denominated, from the black habit worn 
oyer their surplices. They came into England with Athelwulph, confessor 
to Henry I., and in a few years multiplied prodigiously. Stevens's Dugdale,, 
vol. ii. p. 69. 



PRIORY OF ST. EDBURG. 55 



CHAPTER X. 

Priory of St. Edlurg. 

1 hb Priory of Bicester was founded by Gilbert Basset, 
grandson of the first of that name, A. D. 1 182, in the 28th 
and 29th of Henry II. for a prior and eleven canons of the 
Order of St. Augustine, (in imitation of the number of 
Christ and his eleven disciples,) and dedicated to St. Edburg. 
His lady Egiline de Courteney surviving him, and by her 
munificence contributing towards the endowment, was 
reckoned a co-founder. It is not known whether he erected 
a new building, or converted his own mansion into a monas- 
tery for their reception 1 . On their introduction he gave 
them the following charter of endowment 2 . 

Translation. — " To all the faithful of our holy mother the 
Church present and to come, Gilbert Basset sends greeting. 
Be it known unto all of you, that I have given and granted to 
John, Prior of Berncestre, and to the Canons serving God 
there, for the welfare of the body and soul of my Lord King 
Henry, and for the welfare of my own body and soul, and of the 
bodies and souls of Egilina my wife and of my children, and 
for the souls of my predecessors and successors, the Church 
of Berncestre with all its appurtenances. And in addition 

1 " Some say that Eassets house was where the late Priorie stood." Ice- 
land's Itin. p. 3. vol. vii. It is, however, thought by several in the present 
day, that the foundations which still remain in the Korse-close in an area, 
apparently once surrounded by a moat, together with their proximity to the 
monastery, warrant the conjecture of that spot having been the site of his 
mansion, and that it was encompassed by a considerable park. 

2 Kennett, p. 135. 



36 PRIORY OF ST. EDBURG. 

thereto, all the land which is between the croft of Gilbert the 
miller and the messuage which was Adam's, and the messu- 
age itself, as far as my park road, together with five acres 
which the aforesaid Adam held. And the messuage which 
was Osmand Favers, together with the croft. And the mes- 
suage of William the waggoner, and the messuage of Alward, 
together with the croft in which the two aforesaid messuages 
were. And also every tenth load of my wood, that, as it 
comes from the wood, it may be drawn into the Canons' 
yard as into my own. And a certain meadow which is called 
Hamma, extending from the croft of Seric de Wretchwic by 
the mill-dam as far as where the new brook runs into the 
old one, and the mill-dam itself, to erect a mill where there 
was one formerly ; or if it can be more advantageously erected 
in any other place near the mill-dam, let it be done. Also 
pasturage in the pasture ground within my domain for three 
teams of drawing oxen, together with my drawing oxen. 
Also for four hundred sheep, The pasturage belonging to 
the church, as well in my domain as in the common pas- 
ture, and freedom from pasnage 3 . Also that their tenants 
holding of them shall be free and quit from all service, so far 
as respects me. Also the church of Ardinton with its ap- 
purtenances ; the church of Comton with its appurtenaces ; 
the church of Missenden with its appurtenances ; for a per- 
petual gift, free and quit from all secular service and ex- 
action in the meadows and pastures, in the marshes, in the 
mills, in the ways and paths, and in all places, as well and 
as freely as property was ever held by any person what- 
soever. And I Gilbert Basset will warrant the aforesaid 
churches and the aforesaid possessions to the Canons aforesaid 
free from all secular service. And the aforesaid Canons must not 
give or exchange the aforesaid churches or possessions for any 

3 The money paid for the running of swine in a forest. 



PRIORY OF ST. EDBURG. b? 

other church or for any other possessions, nor to farm let. 
Witnesses; — Rob. de Whitefield, then vicar. Thos. de 
Dureval. Egilina my wife &c. Alicia Basset. Henry de Cur- 
tenai. Rob. de Almari. Hugh Durevall. Thomas Basset. 
Fulc. Basset. James de Gerardmulin. Walerona de Chrich- 
lade. Rob. le Waleis. Bartholomew Chaplain. Rob. son of 
Ralph. William de Covele. William son of Richard. Warin 
Butler. Hasculf de Bixa. Thomas Briton. Adam Clerk. 
Richard Clerk de Calverton. And many others." 

The first charter of foundation is in a long slip of parch- 
ment^ with a seal appending of green wax bearing the rude 
effigies of a man on horseback and this inscription •+- Sigillum 
Gilberti Basset. 

Soon after the grant of this charter, Gilbert Basset gave to 
the said Prior and Canons a second, reciting the chapel of 
Stratton 4 as an appurtenance to Bicester, with lands in the 
parish of Stratton : And in the same year, a third and larger, 
containing an additional gift of 40 acres of his demesne, 
20 acres in one of the common fields, and 20 in the other. 
Both of these are signed by the same witnesses, and bear 
a seal of the same impression. 

Kennett supposes the saint to whom this priory was dedi- 
cated, was the holy virgin of Aylesbury, who, together with 
her sister Eaditha, having taken the veil, were reputed saints. 
Their father Frewald gave them the town of Aylesbury 5 . 

List of Priors, Benefactors to the Priory : Vicars, &c. 

John first Prior. Vicar unknown. 

The Prior and Convent having cast a longing eye on the 
tithes of Stratton, given to the Abbey of Eynsham by the 
grandfather of their founder, sought a quarrel about one vir- 

4 Now Stratton-andley. 5 Kennett, p. 134—138. 



58 PRIORY OF ST. EDBUiiG. 

gate of land which had been lately given to them. By the 
interposition of Gilbert Basset the dispute was ultimately set- 
tled by the arbitration of Philip Prior of St. Frideswides and 
Richard of Aylesbury, — that in consideration of the prox- 
imity of Bicester convent, the tithes of Stratton should be 
assigned to it for a pension of twelve shillings per annum: 
which agreement was immediately confirmed by the founder. 
But instead of charging this sum on the temporalities of th e 
priory, it was immediately thrown on the appropriated tithes 
of the church 6 . 

1193. Gilbert Basset and Egiline his wife gave all their 
lands of Wotesdune and Westcote their demesne, in pure 
and perpetual alms for the health of their own souls and 
Thomas their son: and in 1201 7 , G. Basset, after providing 
that his body should be buried in the Priory, increased its 
revenues by the gift of some land with two mills, which he had 
lately bought of Baldwin de Munz in the parish of Kirt- 
lington, paying yearly to the monks of Aulney in Normandy 
eleven shillings and to the heirs of Ingram two shillings for 
all services. It is however doubtful if he was ever buried 
here 8 . 

1209. Richard de Camvill and Eustace his wife, daughter of 
the above founder, and now patrons of the Priory, gave for 
the health of their own souls and Thomas their son, all the 
tithe of hay in their domain in the villages of Bicester, 
Stratton, and Wrechwic, in pure and perpetual alms. 

Near this time the Vicarage of Bicester was ordained by 
Hugh Wells Bp. of Lincoln 9 as follows. 



6 Kennett,p. 144. ' 7 lb. 151. 8 Ib. 162. 

9 Previous to the ordination of vicarages, parish churches appropriated to 
houses of religion, were supplied by secular priests who were stipendiary 
curates; .but when by the ordination of vicarages the stipend was exchanged 
for a standing portion of tithe, glebe and manse, such endowment bettered 



PRIORY OF ST. EDBURG. 5$ 

The Ordination of the Vicarage of Berencestre. 

Translation. — "The Vicarage of the Church of Berencestre, 

which belongs to the Prior and Convent of the same place, by 

authority of Council has been ordained after the following 

manner. The Vicar shall have for his stipend and for those of 

his Chaplain and Clerk forty shillings annually to be allotted 

in certain portions. And he and his Chaplain and Clerk 

shall have from the Priory sufficient food for himself, his 

Chaplain, and his Clerk, and he shall have from the Priory 

hay and provender for one horse : and their offerings ; to wit 

one penny for a burial, (corpore prcesenti) and one penny 

for marriages, and one penny for purifications, and on 

Christmas Day three pence, on Easter Day two pence, and^ 

he shall have at each of the other two principal feasts one 

penny. Also Offerings in Confessions, and by Legacy, as 

far as six pence ; and the Vicar and the Canons shall divide 

the overplus equally between them. He shall also have a 

sufficient dwelling-house out of the Priory. But the Canons 

shall bear all the lawful and accustomed burdens of the Church 

besides the parish burden. And the Vicarage is worth. „ __ 

but the whole church twenty marks IQ ." 

1210. Egiline de Courteney wife of G. Basset having ob- 
tained the moiety of the manor of Wrechwic, formerly 
given as the portion of Eustace to Thos. de Verdun, con- 
signed the half of the manor which Gilbert Basset had re- 
served to himself, with the whole of the wood of Gravenhull, 
in free tenure, to the Priory ' l . 

Robert second Prior. His appointment uncertain. 

1211. Richard Camvill and Eustace Basset his wife, for the 
sake of their own souls and of their ancestors and suc- 



his title, and made him a perpetual vicar instead of an arbitrary curate. Ken. 
p. 605. ™ Kennett, 559, 1! lb, p. 174, 



60 PRIORY OF ST. ED BURG. 

eessors, gave to Robert Prior of Berencester, and the Canons 
of that churchy one messuage in the late tenure of Walter de 
Crockwell, with all its appurtenances, in pure and perpetual 
alms I2 . 

1212. James le Bret, lord of Biggenhull, within the parish 
of Berncestre, gave (with consent of Amable his wife) to 
the Priory four acres of meadow land in Gore, near the Ham 
(i. e. house or piece of land) of Gilbert, by charter 1 '. 

Hervey third Prior. His appointment uncertain. 

The same year the Prioress and Nuns of Merkyate in 
Bedfordshire granted to Hervey Prior of Burncestre two 
ridges of land in Hodesham, in exchange for one acre nearer 
their land in Nyhenaker, and half an acre of meadow near 
the meadow called Gilbertsham 14 . 

1214. Richard de Camvill and Eustace confirmed the do- 
nation of half the manor of Wrechwic given by Egiline de 
Courtney; and as a further benefaction, gave to Robert Clerk 
for his homage and service one virgate of land in the village 
of Bernecestre I5 , to hold for the yearly rent of one pound of 
cummin ; on condition the said Robert, or his heirs, should 
find one lamp before the altar of St. Nicholas in the greater 
church of St. Mary and St. Edburgh in Bernecestre \ to 
burn every night entirely, and every day during divine ser- 
vice, and at canonical hours, for the health of the souls of 
him, his wife Eustace, Gilbert Basset, Egiline, and Richard 
Camvill their son. 

By another charter they confirmed the gift of the manor 
of Wrechwic, and wood of Gravenhull, with the additional 
gift of a certain pasture called Couhrugge l6 . 



»* Kennett, 175. »3 lb. 176. *4 lb. 180. 

'» This virgate of land was one part of Candle-meadow, 
18 Kennett, p. ISO. 



PRIORY OF ST. EDBURG. 6l 

Richard fourth Prior. His appointment uncertain 17 . 

1216. James le Bret, lord of Bigenhull, gave with the con- 
sent of Amable his wife, to Richard Prior of Berncester and 
the Canons of the same, a meadow called Kinsitheam, for the 
soul of his father Walter Bret, and for the souls of his an- 
cestors and successors l8 . 

1217. Robert Fitz Michael, in consideration of one mark 
of silver and the yearly rent of one pound of cummin at 
Easter, granted to the church of St. Edburgh two acres of 
land in Buricroft, lying between the land of Nicholas son of 
Harold and the land of John Goddard. Soon after the 
same person gave two acres in Fort furlong and Crockwell 
furlong, by the service of one penny yearly I9 . 

1218. James le Bret gave to the Priory five acres of his 
land in Crcckwell furlong, with a marsh called Crockwell 
moor, and four seilons or ridges of land to make there a 
lercherie or sheep-cote 2 °. 

1219. Isabel, daughter of Hugh Gargate of Caversfield, 
in her pure widowhood gave to the church of St. Maries and 
St. Edburgh in Burncester, part of a croft which lay near to the 
court of the Canons (the other part having been already 
given by Muriel her sister) on condition the said Canons 
should receive her and her mother into their prayers for 
ever; and when they should depart this life, their names 
should be inscribed in the Martyrology of the Convent. 
Sybil de Caversfield confirmed one virgate of land in the 



J " On the authority of Kennett, I have given this prior's name as Richard, and 
considered him the fourth in office from John the first prior, though only the 
initial R. js given in the deed quoted — p. 183. Willis mentions Reginald as 
fourth prior; but as his name does not occur at length till his resignation in 
1269, I have considered it too long a period for one person to hold the govern- 
ment, especially as they were commonly middle-aged before they received the 
appointment. See Willis's Abbeys, p. 179. 
18 Kennett, 186. *9 lb. 185. *° lb. 187. 



62 . PRIORY OF ST. EDBURG. 

village of Stratton, which Isabel her daughter had given for 
the maintenance of one Canon for ever 2I . 

1222. Thomas Brito gave to the church of St. Edburgh 
for the souls of Gilbert Basset and Egiline de Courtnai ten 
acres of land in the field of Magendune, seven acres of which 
lay between the land of William Petre and William Wind, 
three in Endepethe, and three in Lillesei. 22 . 

1225. The Prior presented a vicar to the vicarage, name 
unknown 2? . 

1227. Walter son of Richard de Kirtlington released and 
quitted claim to the Canons all his right and title to a new 
mill on the other side of Cherwell, with a parcel of willows, 
free passage over the river, and a parcel of land near the mill 
twenty-four feet towards the north, and seventeen feet in 
breadth towards the west side of the mill 24 . 

1228. In consequence of a dispute between Alan Basset 
baron of Wycomb concerning the advowson of Compton, 
Wilts, it was determined by the Bishop of Lincoln, Bath 
and Wells, that the Bishop of Sarum should have the pre- 
sentation, but that two parts of the tithe of corn in the said 
parish and one croft near the house of the incumbent should 
remain a perpetual endowment to Bicester priory 25 . 

1229. Alice Basset, widow of William Mallet baron of 
Curi- Mallet, Somerset, gave some lands in Dedington to her 
nephew Gilbert Basset, who soon after gave them to the 

Priory 26 . 

1230. Walter Ingeram gave to the church and priory a plot 
of ground reaching in length from Hoosford to the mill o 
Kirtlington, with full liberty to plant or fell trees, sell or con- 
vert it to any other use 27 . 



2' Kennrtt, 139. ** lb. 194. *J lb, 198. « lb. 201. *5Ib. 205. 
* 6 lb. 207. V lb, 208. 



PRIORY OF ST. EDBURG. 63 

1 23 1 . The Prior presented a vicar to the church of Newton a8 . 

1233. Alan Basset baron of Wycomb left by will two hun- 
dred marks to the University of Oxford, for the maintenance 
of two chaplains, and made the Prior and Convent of Bicester 
his excecutors, who purchased three carucates of land in 
Arncote, with a wood in the said village, out of the rents of 
which they obliged themselves to pay eight marks yearly in 
two equal payments, for the support of two chaplains or scho- 
lars residing in the University of Oxford, who should pray 
for the souls of him and his wife ; and on every special festival 
add a placebo and dirige. This land still bears (or very lately 
bore) the name of Prior's-hill. 

The schools of Burchester 29 (Scholse Burcestrienses) lay in 
School Street, on the north side of St. Mary's church. 

1234. William Longspe, patron of the Priory, confirmed 
the former grants with pasturage for fifty- two yearlings at 
Erdington 30 . 

1236. The Prior presented to the church of Little Mis- 
senden 1 1 . 

1239. Robert 3 2 fifth Prior died; and the Convent, having 
obtained leave of their patron W. Longspe, elected Henry one 
of their canons, 

1240. The Prior presented to the church of Little Mis- 
senden, Bucks ?3 . 



28 Kennett, 209. 

"9 Kennett supposes the Scholse Burcestrienses originated in this donation, 
and that the convent being thus obliged to maintain two scholars hired a tene* 
meut of the Abbey of Osney called Hastyng, and employed it for the in- 
struction and residence of scholars. — This plan was adopted, by the different 
orders in succeeding ages.— p. 213. 

3° Kennett, p. 216. 3i lb. 220. 

38 Rob. Grosthead Archid. Oxon. Henriciis Canonicus de Burnecestr. pe* 
tita et obtenta licentia eligendi a Com. Sar, a conventu ejusdem domus va- 
cantis per mortem Roberti Prioris in Priorem electus est, Dods. MS. vol, 
107. p. 78. 33 Ren. 224. 



64 PRIORY OF ST. EDBURG. 

1244. Phillippa, daughter of Thomas Basset, in her pure 
widowhood gave to the church of St. Mary and St. Edburg 
all her right in seven shillings yearly rent out of a tenement in 
Stodley, to be paid to the canons, on condition the said 
canons, for the health of her soul, and her ancestors' and chil- 
dren's souls, should find one lamp always burning before the 
altar of St. John the Baptist in the conventual church of Bi- 
cester. — Here she was afterwards buried 34 . 

Ralph de Chesterton gave the service of one knight's fee 
in Betterton, payable at the death of every Prior of Pothele 35 . 

1245. The Convent paid three marks towards the marriage 
of the king's son, a grant being made of twenty shillings on 
every knight's fee. 

William Longspe gave to the Priory a pasture land called 
Heesecroft, lying on the east side of the highway leading to 
Wrechwic, as far as the bridge, with the whole meadow ad- 
joining, to inclose and convert at pleasure; and also his whole 
right and title in a mill held by Robert Puff, saving to himself 
and his heirs the free grinding of corn for himself and family; 
and also a messuage in Crockwell, for which the said Canons 
used to pay fifteen pence ; in consideration of their remitting 
sixty shillings rent per ann. which they had in the mill of 
Wivesley 3<s . 

1249. Philip Basset, son of Alan Basset baron of Wycomb, 



34 This lady was the second wife of Henry Earl of Warwick, who died 13 
Henry III. She afterwards married Richard Siward, from whom she was di- 
vorced. — Kennett, p. 233. 

35 It seems Thomas de Mazcey had given the manor of Westbatterton to 
the Priory of Poghele by the service of one knight's fee to the capital lord, 
to be paid at the death of every Prior, which manor was then in possession of 
Sir Ralph de Chesterton. By an indenture made between the parties it was 
agreed Sir Ralph should confirm the gift, and the Priors successively perform 
the service. This service constituted the donation to Bicester Priory.— Kenn. 
p. 233. 3fi Kennett, p. 235. 



PRIORY OF ST. EDBURG. 65 

gave to the church and convent sixteen acres of arable land, 
and one acre of meadow in the fields of this village, with four 
messuages in the said village, excepting a reserved rent to the 
lord of the demesne ll . 

1254. The Pope grants to King Henry the tenth of all spiri- 
tuals for three years. Bicester Priory was then valued at fifteen 
pounds, and the vicarage at thirty marks by the Bishop of 
Norwich. — Hervey Prior. 

1261. John sub-prior of Bicester chosen Prior of Chet- 
wood 38 . — The religious were now become so unpopular as to 
occasion some of the inhabitants, in their grants, to prohibit 
their children giving their possessions to monasteries ?9 . 

1268. On the death of Reginald seventh Prior, William de 
Quainton one of the canons was chosen to that office by leave 
of Henry Lacy Earl of Lincoln and Salisbury, their patron 4 °. 

Isabel de Fortibus Countess of Albemarle granted a charter 
of confirmation to the Priory of five quarters of bread- corn to 
make hosts or consecrated bread for the service of the altar, 
out of the manor of Hey ford-war rin originally given by her 
great grandmother Maud de Chesny in the tenth of Ri- 
chard 1 . 4I This grant was afterwards relinquished by the 
convent for a composition of six shillings and eight pence 
when the manor was granted to New College Oxon. 

1271. Philip Basset gave by charter lands in Clifton, Heen- 
tone, and Dadingtone, with lands, tenements, and their ap- 
purtenances in Grimsbury in the parish of Bannebury, Nor- 
thamptonshire 4 \ 

1272. The remainder of Wrechwic came into the pos- 
session of the convent by gift of Ela, widow of James Lord 

37 Kennett, 241. 38 ib. 257. 

39 lb. 264. Habenda et tenenda dictam acram terrae de me et hseredibus 
meis sibi et haeredibus suis vel suis assignatis vel cuicunque dictam acram 
terra? dare vendere legare vel assignare voluerit in quocunque statu sit ex- 
ceptis viris veligiosis - 

4° Kennett, 2C>9. * l Ib. 270. « Ib. 274, 

F 



66 PRIORY OF ST. EDBURG. 

Audley, and daughter of William Longspe 4 *. She again two 
years afterwards renounced all claim to the two carucates in 
Wrechwic. 

1275. John Pufgh granted to the canons his right in an 
acre of arable land lying in Brodelond in Bicester field 5 the 
canons releasing to him and Muriel his wife twelve pence 
yearly out of ten shillings annual rent due to the convent 44 . 

The convent purchased all the right and claim rf Richard 
de Culne and Christiana his wife in the water-mill in Kirt- 
lington 45 . 

It appears by a parchment register that in 1 277 the expenses 
of the religious were less than the receipts by twenty-five 
pounds six shillings and five pence. 

Richard de la Vache granted and confirmed to Walter, 
prior, all the lands, meadows, &c. he held in the village of 
Wrechwic, by gift of Hamo de Gattone, the convent paying 
five marks and a half yearly, or, in default of payment, him- 
self or heirs being allowed to distrain the goods or chattels on 
any part of the convent land in that manor 46 . 

1281. Walter, Prior, having caused Thomas de Meriton. 
one of his canons, to make an In hoc 47 , in Arncot common 
fallow field, near the court or mansion house of the prior, on 
the east side in Nether Arncote, the abbot of Oseney com- 
plained he was much damaged thereby ; and after much op- 
position it was agreed, nothing of the kind should hereafter 
be done without consent of the abbot 48 . 

1285. Henry Lacy confirmed the charter of Gilbert Bas- 
set and that of William Longspe 49 . 

43 Kennett, 277. 44 lb. 284. 

45 "This was the chiefage or lord's rent, which the convent bought off for 
twenty shillings." lb. p. 285. 

4« lb. 288. 

*? An In hoc seems to have been an inclosure in some part of a common 
field which lies fallow, because it was agreed that the abbot of Oseney out of 
his mere liberality should allow the prior the crop of that croft for this turn. 

* 8 Kennett, p. 297. 43 lb. 306. 



PBIORY OF ST. EDBURG. 67 

. 1291. A general taxation of all ecclesiastical possessions in 
England, toward defraying an expedition to the Holy Land, 
granted to pope Nicholas IV, the whole was under the di- 
rection of John bishop of Winton, and Oliver bishop of 
Lincoln 5 °, when those connected with the church and priory 
were valued according to the following list. 

Taxatio Ecclesiastica P. Nicholai . 

Prior de Burncesfer' h't in Cestreton in t'ris et redd' 
Wedlingbur' in redd' et p'ts - - 
Wrechwik in t'ris redd' mol' p'ts pan- 
nag* et cur' - - - - 
Feryngford in t'ris et pratis 
h't man'ium de Grimesbur' in Decanat' 
de Bannebur' et com' Northt' - 
Ernecote in t'ris et redd' - - 
Stepel Aston in redd' - - 
Blexh'm in t'ris redd J p'tis pastur'mo- 
lend' et fruct' aial' - - 
Westcote in t'ris et redd* - - 
Cave~sfield in terr' redd' p'tis cur' - 
h't in ibidem in fruct' greg* et aial' - 
Decanat 1 Marleberg* 
Porcio prions Burncester Eccl'ia de Compton £5 6s Qd 

decima. 
Marleberg Prior de Burncest' taxatio lOd. decima. 

Ecc'lia de Burncestr' deduct' pore' -12 
Porcio Abb'is de Alneto in ead' - 1 (5 8 

It'm porcio Abb'is Oseney in ead' -200 
It'm pore' Abb'is de Eynesham in ead' 12 

s° The collectors appointed in the diocese of Lincoln were the abbot of 
Oseney and prior of St. Catharine's at Lincoln. These deputed Ralph rector of 
Wooten, and Richard rector of Gilling, for the archdeaconries of Oxford, Bed- 
ford, and Bucks. lb. 312. 

f2 



e£. S. 


d. 


1 16 





1 17 


4 


2 2 


8 


1 





6 





3 14 


*i 


13 


4 


13 19 





2 11 


11 


5 18 


4 


2 





Sd 




10 


8 





1 



6s 



PRIORY OF ST. EDBURG. 



1299. A dispute settled between the priory of Bicester and , 
the convent of Asherugge respecting a common pasture near 
to Wrechwike, by an agreement that the prior and convent 
might enclose three acres of common pasture in Blackthorne, 
excepting meadow to be mowed, in any place where the te- 
nants of the Priory and convent used to common SI . 

1300. William de Thornberg ninth Prior quitting Novem- 
ber 13th. Roger de Cottesford constituted prior. 

The canons of Oseney agree to remit the tithes of Burn- 
cester, &c. to the Priory for sixty shillings per annum. 

The convent of Bicester demise their prebendary church 
of Sutton with the chapel of Bockingham and their respec- 
tive manors to the abbey of Aulney in Normandy, for two 
years at two hundred pounds rent 52 . 

1304. The tithe of Biggenhull and Nonnes Place was ap- 
propriated to the church of St. Maries Kirtlington, which 
church was appropriated to the Cistertian abbey of Aulney 
in Normandy. This year the abbot of Aulney demised the 
said church and its appurtenances to the prior and convent 
for the rent of forty shillings per annum. 

1310. By an inquisition of the possessions of Henry La- 
cy Earl of Lincoln, the jurors found that he held the manor 
of Burncester by the law or courtesy of England of the inherit- 
ance of Margaret his wife, &c, and that there were in the 
said manor one hundred and sixty acres of land. That the prior 
held of the earl the site of the priory with four carucates of 
land, twenty acres of meadow, one water mill with other ap- 
purtenances, value forty pounds per annum; the church of the 
said town, value thirty marks, with the manor of Wrechwicke 
worth twenty pounds per annum, in pure and perpetual alms; 
and that Alice daughter of the aforesaid Henry and Margaret 
was the nearest heir of the age of twenty-six years and upward 5 - . 

si Kennctt, 536. *-' lb". 342. 53 lb. 360, 



PRfORY OF ST. EDBURG. 69 

1317. The king at Walsingham confirmed the several da- 
nations made to the priory by special charter. 

1320. Walter de Burncester^ clerk, designing to give to 
prior and convent one messuage with ten acres of land in 
Grimsburv and Warkworth, petitioned for the dispensation 
of the statute of mortmain lately passed (A .D. 1276. Edw. I.) 
which, on the report of commissioners that it was not pre- 
judicial to the king, was granted. This statute prevented 
many future donations s? . 

1322. Richard Serich granted and confirmed to the prior 
and convent one messuage and nine acres of arable land in 
the town and fields of Bicester, held of John Puff, to have 
and to hold of the convent from the lords of the fee by 
usual service s6 . 

1329. A dispute which arose between Oseney abbey and 
Byrseter priory relative to the portion of tithes in Ardington 
Berks, decided in favour of Byrseter priory, under the hands 
and seals of the oldest inhabitants 57 . 

1331. Roger de Cottesford dying is succeeded by Robert 
de Curtlington eleventh prior. Admitted 6 calend. of Decem- 
ber 5 \ 

1342. Sir Richard de la Vache released and quitted claim 
to the prior and convent all his right and claim to the several 
lands and tenements which the said prior held in the manor 
of Wrechwyke, and to all suits and services which could arise 
from thence S9 . 

1348. Roger Warde became prior 3d cal. of June, on the 
death of Robert de Curtlington. 

Nicholas Brode admitted vicar 16 cal. December 60 . 



54 It was common for the religious to assume a surname from the place of 
their nativity or former residence. 

55 Kennett, 381. 5 6 lb. 389. 57 lb. 412. This document is very curious. 
§ 8 Willis's Abbeys, vol. ii. p. 172. 59 Kennett, p. 453. *> lb. p. 559. 



70 PRIORY OF ST. EDBURG. 

1349. Nicholas de Shobington appointed thirteenth Prior, 
10 calend July 61 . 

Thomas Cok curate of Middleton, William de Stratton 
curate of Launton, and Richard de Caversfield curate, jointly 
gave to the conventual church of St. Edburg in Burncestre 
all the lands, tenements, rents, services &c. which they had 
of the gift and feoffment of Thomas de Stapenhull in the 
villages of Burncestre and Middelington, to hold for ever of 
the capital lords of the fee 62 . 

John Osmond of Chippenham admitted vicar at Peter- 
borough 15 calend. June 63 . 

1354. Peter le Grote fourteenth Prior resigning, Robert 
Blaket succeeded on the 5 of the ides of December, which dig- 
nity he retained until his death 1383 64 . 

1356. The prior and canons admitted John de Aldwinkle 
vicar (John Osmond having tendered his resignation) on the 
nones of August ; and Aldwinkle after retaining it fifteen 
years exchanged it with William Belhamy 20 November 137 1 3 
for the vicarage of Weregrove, Sarum 65 . 

1383. Robert Islip sixteenth prior confirmed April 1st 66 . 

1397. John Paulyn vicar, Richard Green curate. 

October 14, Richard Parentyn appointed prior 67 . 

1401. Wm. Campion admitted vicar 68 . 

Circa, The parish church rebuilt in its present situation 69 . 

141 1. Richard le Estrange lord of Bicester, and patron of 
the priory, granted to Richard Parentyn and his successors a 
pasture called Cowbrige mede, between the water course nigh 
the meadow of Biggenhull, and the priors' land called Cow- 
brige furlong, in full recompense for the free pasturage of three 
team of oxen, which liberty had been lost for a long time. 
This however is given and acknowledged as a full equivalent 70 . 

61 Willis, vol. ii. p. 172. 62 Kennett, 471. 6 3 lb. p. 559. 

6 * Willis, vol. ii. p. 172. «5 Kennett, p. 558. « Willis, vol. ii. p. 17<2. 
^Willis, ib. 6 « Willis, ib. 6 Kennett, p. 558. 7 ° lb. 546. 



PRIORY OF ST. EDBURG. fl 

1413. Ralph Philip presented by the prior and convent, 
upon exchange with William Campion 10 March 71 . 

1425. 3 Henry VI. The chaplain of Stratton Audley 
at the instigation of the inhabitants presumed to bury two 
corpses in the said chapel when they ought to have been 
carried to the mother church of Bicester. Upon this violation 
of parochial rights, the prior and canons of Bicester the 
patrons and appropriators of the church made their com- 
plaint, and preferred a suit against the inhabitants of Stratton, 
and the prior in person went to London to prosecute and so- 
licit in the cause, which was finally referred to the bishop of 
Worcester, who came to Bicester to try the same ; which 
after due hearing and examining was determined in favour 
of the prior, and the inhabitants punished for their illegal 
offence 72 . 

By the bursars* account delivered 1425, it appears to have 
been customary for them to settle their accounts the day after 
Michaelmas 7J . 

1434. William Campion resigned the vicarage into the 
hands of the prior and convent, who appointed John Odam : 
admitted at Lydington Oct. 18. 1434. 

1439. Richard Parentyn dying, John Wantyng succeeded 
to that office as eighteenth Prior 74 . 

1 440. Richard Parentyn the late prior having held for life 
from the lord of the manor one parcel of ground called the 
mulle piece or mill piece, extending in length one acre 
called the mulle acre y lying near the highway under the wall 
of the priory close, called the horse close or le horscrofts, on 
one part ; and the mete or boundary reaching toward the 

7' Kennett, 558. n lb. 577, 578. 

~i These accounts are given at length in the Appendix, and tvil] befoul to 
contain some very curious items. 
** Willis's Abbeys, vol. ii.'p. 172. 



/2 PRIORY OF ST. EDBURG. 

meadow nigh the hrech on the other part, and abutting on 
the south upon Lamp-dytch near the aforesaid meadow, and 
on the north on the highway near the croft of John Russel, 
the same land was now granted by Sir Richard Le Strange ti& 
the priory by the service of one red rose on the feast of St. 
John the Baptist 75 . 

1453. John Wantyng resigning is succeeded by Edmund 
Wyeomb, and the following maintenance appointed him : 

Translation. — John Wantyng prior of Burcestre not hav- 
ing from any other quarter the substance of this world, from 
whence he is able to support himself, according to his proper 
state, rank and age, hath resigned the said priory. The bi- 
shop hath preferred to the same priory Edmund Wyeomb, and 
assigns to the said John for his maintenance, a place called the 
trymles situated within the priory aforesaid, with its garden ; 
also the said John shall have for the term of his life, for the 
clothing and stipend of his servant, five marks ; also he shall 
have four cart-load of firewood from the wood or coppice of the 
said prior, and as much bread and beer, fish and flesh and other 
eatables and drinkables as two canons of the said priory have 
been accustomed to receive : he shall have also every month 
two pounds of wax candles for his chamber ; and shall have 
also every week twelve flaggons of beer and thirty-three con- 
ventual loaves for himself and servants 7 \ 

In the third year of Henry VI. anno 1454. The prior and 
convent of Burcestre, entered into the following compact 
with John Odam, and granted this instrument for the per- 
petual endowment of the vicarage. 

Translation. — -Edmund, prior of the priory of St. Edburg 
Burcestre, and the convent of the same place, proprietors of 
the parish church of Burcestre aforesaid, and of the chapel of 
the blessed virgins Mary and Edburg of Stratton-audley, de- 

75 Kennett, p. 623. ' 5 Willis's Abbeys, vol. ii. p. 332. 



PRIORY OF ST. EDBURG. *j3 

pendant on the same &c. John Odam priest, perpetual vicar 
of the parish church aforesaid &c. We the prior and the con- 
vent the proprietors aforenamed will and grant by these presents 
for us and our successors, that the said master John Odam 
perpetual vicar aforesaid and his successors in future time 
shall have and shall enjoy by right and title with the vicarage 
aforesaid, the manse of his vicarage with the gardens and 
customary places adjacent, and the tithes of vegetables and 
of hemp and flax growing in the gardens of the said parish, 
also all the tithes, oblations, mortuaries, altar offerings, com- 
modities, profits, and emoluments whatsoever, arising at 
present or in future from the villages or fields of Burcestre, 
Wrechwic, or Biggenhull, and from other lands and place? 
tithable or about to be tithed, within the boundaries or limits 
of the said parish church of St. Edburg, wheresoever situated, 
arising or in future to arise, and of all places appertaining 
to, or belonging, or in future to appertain to the same parish 
church, freely, fully and wholly, without impediment from 
us or our successors, excepting and reserving to us the prior 
and convent and to our successors all sorts of tithes of gar- 
bage and of hay arising from tithable places in the same 
parish, excepting also and reserving all sorts of tithes of all 
enclosures not gardens at present or in future in the said 
parish, in our hands without any fraud existing. But if any 
of these inclosures shall be in the hands of tenants, or occu- 
pied by their (kinej animals, then we will and grant that the 
aforesaid vicar and his successors shall have and enjoy the 
tithes of lambs, wool, cheese, butter, and the personal 
tithes, in every case reserving the great tithes in all those 
places to ourselves and successors, reserving also to ourselves 
and successors all sorts of tithes, oblations, and profits what- 
ever arising in the village of Stratton-audley. And also we 
will and grant that the said vicar shall have annually two 
waggon load of good hay furnished and afforded by the prior 



74 PRIORY OF ST. EDBURG. 

and convent, to be carried to the manse of the said vicar at 
a proper time as heretofore accustomed, and 4 waggon load 
of fire-wood, out of the wood of the prior called the Priors 
wood near Arncote, to be cut down and carried at the cost of 
the said vicar, upon the reasonable arrangement of the prior 
and his deputies, after a proper requisition made by the vicar 
or his attorney. We the proprietors aforesaid also will and 
consent to the expense of maintaining a chaplain in the said 
chapel of Stratton, according to the tenor of the above compo- 
sition, to celebrate and administer all holy rites to the parish- 
ioners there, by the consent, will, and assent of me John the 
vicar aforesaid, and also by the consent, will, authority and 
assent of the reverend father in Christ lord John by the grace 
of God bishop and diocesan of this place, to us and to our 
successors does appertain and belong ; and not only the duty 
aforesaid, but also all other duties whatsoever incumbent on the 
said chapel or aforenamed church of Bicester, and to the vicar 
of the said church, in what manner soever belonging, the 
duty of repairing the vicar's manse or of furnishing meat and 
drink to the said vicar being alone excepted. In witness and 
affiance of which wholly and singularly we the Prior and Con- 
vent, the proprietors aforesaid on the one part, to these in- 
dentures containing our agreement, and remaining in the keep- 
ing of the said vicar, have set our common seal. And I the 
vicar aforesaid on the other part, for the greater testimony 
and affiance of the premises, have procured the official seal of 
the reverend lord archdeacon of Oxford to be affixed. Gi- 
ven in the chapter house of the priory of Burcestre aforeaid, 
the twentieth day of January, (A.D. 1454,) thirty-third year 
of the reign of King Henry VI. " 7 

1479. John Adams dies, and the Prior and Convent ap- 
point Richard Brails vicar, who was admitted at Peterborough 

77 Kennett, p. 669, 670. 



PRIORY OF ST. EDBURG. 75 

July 29th same year. After holding it nearly two years and 
a half he resigned, and Thomas de Kirkby admitted at the 
Old Temple, London, 1481 '*. 

1483. Richard Hindlest twentieth Prior enters into an 
agreement with the Abbot and Convent of Eynsham to pay 
yearly the sum of twenty shillings out of the mill at Old Clif- 
ton, near Dadyngton. The state of the premises no longer ad- 
mitting the payment of forty shillings, the original sum is 
therefore remitted 79 . 

November 20th the same year the Prior died, and John 
Tooker the sub-prior was raised to that dignity 8q . 

1485. Thomas Banbury elected twenty-second Prior 81 . 

1486. The manor and church of Heyford being conveyed 
to New College, Oxon, the Prior and Convent released the 
rent of corn formerly given them by Maud de Chesney to 
make hosts, for the annual payment of six shillings and eight 
pence in money. 

1498. William Stavely lord of Bignal gave by will twenty- 
six shillings and eightpence; — proved November the 1st same 
year 82 . 

1499. Richard Petyrton 17 July succeeds as twenty- third 
Prior, on the resignation of Thomas Banbury — is afterwards 
promoted to the abbacy of Nuttley, Bucks 8 *. 

1503. William Dadyngton confirmed Prior in Dec. 

1510. John Coventry elected twenty-fourth Prior Octo- 
ber ll 84 . 

1528. Robert Bruce twenty-sixth Prior died 85 . 

78 Kenneit, 621. 

"9 Madox's Formulare Anglicanum, p. 107. 
g0 Additions to Willis's Abbeys, vol. ii. p. 23. 
81 Willis, vol. ii,- p. 173. 

8a He also '« bequeathed his body to be buried in the chance] of the parish 
church of Bicester." — Kennett, p. 680. 
8j 8 4 Willis, vol. ii. p. 173, 
«s Cole's MS. vol. 27. p. 80, Brit, Mus. 



76 



PRIORY OF ST. EDBURG. 



1528. William Browne twenty- seventh and last Prior 
elected April 6th 86 . 

1529. Peter Gryffith appointed vicar on the resignation 
of Florentius 8? . 

1534. William Browne, Prior, and eight Monks, sub- 
scribed to the supremacy of Henry VIII. The following year 
were visited in general with other monasteries. It is probable 
the visitors here were Lee and Leighton, as their visitation 
included the diocese of Lincoln 88 . 

1536. The report of the visitors having disclosed mon- 
strous vices and enormities which existed among the monas- 
tics in different parts of the kingdom, an act of parliament 



86 Cole's MS. vol. 27. p. 80. 8 7 Kennett, p. 621. 

88 This step appears to have been taken with a direct design to produce 
charges against the monks, and thereby effect their ruin; they having lately 
fallen under the King's displeasure. The instructions of the visitors are very 
particular, and it seems almost impossible for the religious to avoid commit- 
ting themselves in their answers to some of the eighty-six inquiries which the 
commissioners were directed to press. Among these were the questions whe- 
ther divine service was kept up night and day at the right hours — how many 
were present and absent—the number of religious, whether according to the 
foundation — their former and present revenues — their mortmains and dona- 
tions, and whether the founder was authorised to make them ? They also were 
to examine their local statutes, inquire into the election of their head, see the 
rule of the house, number the professed, and examine the novices-!-to inquire 
whether the monastics observed their rule, but chiefly the three vows. Whe- 
ther any had money without the master's knowledge — if there were any back- 
doors to the monastery by which women entered, or if boys lay with them. — 
Whether the rules of abstinence, fasting, silence, and hair shirts were observed 
—the habit worn, and every transaction of life in conformity to the order, — whe- 
ther the superior and brethren acted towards each other as prescribed, —the edi- 
fice in good order, — the estates properly managed, — and church presentations 
rightly made ? — and lastly, one brother was called to state another's views in 
entering that place, or managing its concerns: thereby exciting them to inform 
against each other. No wonder monstrous stories were propagated, doubtless 
many of them false: but they produced the desired end, the shocking enormi- 
ties they were charged with excited the hatred of the people, and finally ac- 
complished their suppression. — BurneCs Hist, of the Reformatio^ vol. i. p. 185,. 



PRIORY OF ST. EDBURG. 77 

was passed for the suppression of all the monasteries whose 
revenues did not exceed two hundred pounds per annum. The 
preceding valuation having included the priory of Bicester in 
this number, it was accordingly surrendered by Prior Browne 
and his Convent, each of whom had pensions assigned them 
out of its revenues, though the amount of that paid to the 
Prior (viz. twenty-four pounds per annum) is alone preserved. 

1537. Probably the last act of the prior and convent as 
an independent community was a grant of the right of pre- 
sentation of the vicarage of Bicester to John Longland bishop 
of Lincoln, at which time that prelate collated John Phillips. 

It is much to be regretted that the records of the Aug- 
mentation-office do not contain the original surrender of the 
monastery. The following, however, is the list of its reve- 
nues as delivered into that court, 29 Henry VIII. 89 

Oxon. Monast'rium de Burcester. 



gton -) 

I' VExif 

time J 




- - - - - - - Firm' et Reddus cu' 

Burcester - Redd' Cust' Tenen' 

Firma terr' <f nicar' - 
Wretch wyke - Redd' et Firm' - 

Stratton Audeley Firm' terr' - 

Ardyngton et Letcum- \ „. ; - . . ; - , 
basset - } Firm Rectoneet Terr 

Kempton, Dodington 
Clifton et molend' 

aquat' in Clyftoni 
Grymesburye juxta ) 

Banburye - ^ FimV Manerij' - - 8 6 8 

Nelthropp juxta } 

Banneburye ^FirnV Mes' - - 1 13 4 

*9 The most grateful acknowledgements are due to John Caley, Esq. F. A. S. 
keeper of the records at the Augmentation-office, for his obliging communi- 
cations, and for his ready assistance in procuring original documents. 



78 PRIORY OF ST. EDBURG. 

Oxon. Monast' de Burcester. 

£. s. d. 

Kirtlyngton et 1 Redd* et Firm' cum Redd'? 

Tackleye j tam lib' quam cust' ten' C * 1 ] ' y 

Arncote in Hundreed 

de Bolingdon - 
Stepulaston - 
Middylton 
Wendleburie - 
Chesterton - 
Fryngforde — 
Heyforde Warren 
Caversfelde - 
Samforde - 

Buckenhul - 
Beamonde juxta 7 

Missenden J 
Westcote 
Blackenhull 
Compton Bassett 



Thus after existing for a period of three hundred and fifty- 
four years as the principal mansion in the town, did this mo- 
nastery dwindle into insignificance and ruin, so that the most 
diligent inquiry can only rescue a few of the names of its prin- 
cipal buildings from oblivion, whose site neither tradition nor 
investigation can ascertain. 

It is evident from the foregoing annals that the church of 
this monastery contained three altars, one of which occupied 
the east end, and was distinguished by the name of the high 
altar, and the others dedicated to St. John the Baptist and 
St. Nicholas. To the former of these, without doubt, the 
clause in the second charter of the founder applies, which di- 



Redd' Mess' et Terr' 


- 4 11 10 


Redd' Mess' et Terr' 


- 13 4 


Redd' Mess' et Terr' 


-200 


Firm' Cottag' < 


st Terr' 


- 10 


Firm' terr' 


- 


-050 


Redd' terr' 


- 


-020 


Penc' - 


- 


- 1 6 8 


Firm' Manrij 


- 


- 2 13 4 


Firm' Mes' et terr' 


-050 


Firm terr' 


-^ 


-050 


Firm'Man'ij 


- 


- 13 6 8 


Redd' Terr' 


— 


- 4 10 


Firm' Clans' 


- 


-10 


Penc' R~cor 


- 


-400 


Vendic Bosc 






Perquis' Cur' 




null' 



PRIORY OF ST. EDBURG. 79 

rects that cc one virgate of land in Stratton should be applied 
to finding a light for the church," and which according to an- 
cient custom was placed on the altar during the celebration 
of divine service. This opinion seems also confirmed by the 
grant of Candlemeadow by Richard Camvill for the express 
purpose of maintaining lamps (or candles) for the altar of 
St. Nicholas, which were to burn every night entirely, " and 
every day during divine service, for the health of the souls of 
Richard Camvill and Eustace his wife, Gilbert Basset, and Ri- 
chard Camvill their son." 

The piety of Phillippa Basset, Countess of Warwick, pro- 
vided a light for the altar of St. John the Baptist ; and the 
circumstance of her being buried within the church would lead 
to the conclusion that she was afterwards buried near that 
altar 9° • indeed it is not improbable that both of the latter 
were founded as chanteries, and perhaps by the above bene- 
factors, that after their decease masses might be perpetually 
sung for the repose of their souls. 

Altars of this description were generally decorated with the 
image of the saint to whom they were dedicated. The pri- 
vate masses were seldom attended with any pomp, and almost 
without any attendant except the priest's boy, or some of the 
relations of the dead. On the anniversary a missa ad requiem 
was sung in the morning, and a dirge in the afternoon. This 
service was called the founder's year's mind ; and if there were 
lesser commemorations, they were described as a month's or 
week's mind 91 . 

In common with other conventual churches, the religious 
had each a stall, similar to those now found in cathedrals, 



9° Kennett, p. 232. — The idea is suggested from her having granted seven 
shillings rent in Stodeley for maintaining a light to be set on this allar. 
9 l A dole was frequently given on the anniversary. Peck's Desid. Curiosa, 

vol. ii. lib, vi. p, 33. Lond. 1732. 



SO PRIORY OF ST. EDBURG. 

which they occupied during divine worship, and there is little 
doubt but that after death their bodies were buried in this 
church. This edifice also seems to have contained the ashes 
of several noble persons besides the Countess of Warwick. 

The foundress, Egiline de Courteney, some of the Damo- 
ries lords of Bucknel and Goddington, and one of the last lords 
Le Strange, are particularly enumerated as buried within the 
walls ; but whether any tombs or monuments perpetuated their 
memory is unknown 9*. Even all traces of the pile itself have 
perished, and no document remains which can furnish a con- 
jecture concerning it. On the Dissolution, the fabric was im- 
mediately destroyed, and most likely the bells, lead, and other 
materials sold, so that when Leland visited the place a short 
time after the surrender, there was not a vestige of its grandeur 
remaining. If, however, under the discouraging circumstances 
of the failure of traditional evidence, and the destruction of every 
fragment of the edifice, it be allowable to hazard a conjecture 
of its site, I should be inclined to place it within the smaller 
inclosure, on the northern side of the garden ; — the space in- 
cluded within those lofty walls lying due east and west, and 
appearing proportionate to the extent of a church adapted to 
the use of this monastery 9 K 

9* Giibert Basset as some thinke was buried beyond the sea. 

./Eglean Courteney was buried in the Priorie of Bnrcester. 

There were divers of the D'amories auncient gentlemen buried in the Priory 
of Burcester. 

There was also one of the last lords " le Strange " buried. — Leland Itin. 
vol. vii. p. 413. 

One of these, Sir Richard D'amory, lord of Buckenhall (now Bucknell) was 
an eminent warrior in the reign of Edward III., and summo; _d to parliament 
from the twentieth of Edward II, to the year in which he died, A.D. 1330. 

Ken. p. 413. 

Si I am aware there are those who consider the church to have been situated 
without the boundary walls, in Place yard. The matter might be decided by 
digging, as it is probable some vestiges of mortality would appear in the latter 
place, if the conjecture is well founded. 



PRIORY OF ST. EDB13RG. 81 

Great part of the priory seems to have been left standing 
for many years, but nothing can be said of its original form. 
It is evident there were several spacious rooms 3 the hall or 
refectory, where all the canons dined 5 the lursary 9 *, where all 
accounts were settled ; the locuiory 95 or parlour, where the 
religious retired for conversation after dinner; the chapter- 
house 96 , where all writings were drawn and sealed ; and the 
dorior or dormitory, where all the fathers slept. Of all these 
we have only a faint idea of the dortor, which we gather from 
the bursar's accounts in 1425, and which represents that build- 
ing as a long room covered with tiles 5 and each end sur- 
mounted with a weathercock 97 . How long these building3 
remained in their original state after the Dissolution, is uncer- 
tain : the monastery afterwards became the residence of the 
Blounts 98 , and was probably then of considerable extent ; but 
the only part remaining, is a house now occupied by a Mr. 
Wilson who rents the gardens, and is forty-one feet in 
length, and sixteen feet and a half in breadth^ one end of 
which forms a part of the boundary wall belonging to the mo- 
nastery. From the situation of the building it is not unlikely 

9* " ComputaVerunt fratres Radulphus de Meriton et Stephanus de Oxon. 
de Bulgaria domus Berncestre coram auditoribus*" Kenn. p. 288. 

95 " Et WilliefmoHykkedon Latamo conducto per quatuor dies ad faciendum 
limen hostii Loeutorii versus Aulam Prioris xvj den." lb. p. i>74. 

9 s At Osney Abbey the dortor was an oblong room, divided by several par- 
titions, between each of which was a bed open at the feet, and a candle which 
should serve for each of them till their time to arise at their nightly devotions. 
When the candles were lighted, the keys of this place were carried to the pre- 
fect or vicar, who opened it in the morning at the appointed time, when each 
monk had their summons to rise, and had an hour given them for private duty 
to prepare themselves for other services. — Peshall's Oxford, p. 304. 

97 The mention of eighteen corbelstones, explained by Kennett to mean 
niches for statues (Gloss.), conveys an idea of this building being extremely 
handsome. See Appendix. 

s 6 History of Alchester. 

G 



82 PRIORY OF ST. EDBURG. 

that it was the lodge, or the house appropriated to the lodging 
and entertainment of travellers : it has undergone many alte- 
rations ; but from the form of the windows, and the exterior 
appearance of the structure, it seems to have been erected 
much earlier than the parish church. 

Some years ago, another building stood within the wall on 
the right of the entrance, and was then used as an out-house. 
The windows were of similar workmanship with those which 
remain — the building has been since destroyed — the stone 
coping of the boundary is also removed, and the only remain- 
ing evidence of its former importance is the Gothic arch by 
which the house and garden are entered. A letter from Mr. 
J. Smith, the master of Bicester charity-school, (who with his 
father was employed many years in these gardens by the late 
Mr. Stratton,) states that they " found many earthen floors in 
the upper garden, under the southern wall adjoining Clap- 
yale" which were probably the floors of the cells belonging 
to the monks. Near the centre of the same garden a circular 
well was also discovered, which he describes " about a yard in 
diameter, and walled with freestone." He adds: " My father 
and Master Hudson repeatedly tried to empty it; but after they 
had reached th° depth of seven feet the water flowed in so fast 
that they were compelled to desist I0Q . Close to the present 
building, my father also discovered a very neat coffin about 
two feet long ; the bones were so small that he could not as- 
certain what they were, and there was no inscription visible. 
In the garden called the orchard, we found a neat little place 



ico This well was about the centre of the inclosed area, and, if the buildings 
and cells ran parallel with the boundary wall, was at nearly an equal distance 
from every part of the quadrangle. Hence it is reasonable to suppose that 
it was the chief water used by the monks. The freestone walls are now 
takeu away, and in June 183 4 it appeared an unsightly hollow full of muddy 
water. 



PRIORY OF ST* EDBURG. 83 

Walled with brick; and paved with six-inch square tiles orna- 
mented with plain circles, and flowers of various kinds ; the 
floor was about two feet below the surface of the ground." — 
The present occupier informed me that some time ago he 
found an immense arched vault, which on opening was half full 
of water; this he attributed to the falling in of the old drains* 
and on that account finding it useless, he removed the crown 
of the arch and filled it up. The adjoining premises are full 
of large foundations, once forming offices, &c. connected with 
the priory. There is a report that a large arch was standing- 
close to the present farm-house, some years past ; and that 
the farm-house itself occupies the site of the ancient lodge ; 
and this report is confirmed by a deed quoted by Kennett, which 
-states that the priory gate adjoined the church-yard. 

The large pond in Place yard was doubtless originally de- 
signed for supplying the monastery with fish, as well as the 
moats in the Horse-close. Near the entrance of the garden 
is a smaller water, perhaps once a stew, where fish were pre- 
served for immediate use, as the multiplicity of fast- days in 
the Romish calendar demanded a perpetual supply. There 
is a ridiculous story of a coach and six horses being lost in this 
water, though it is silent as to the owner, and the time when 
the accident happened ; but there is nothing whatever which 
can countenance the report. On the site of the present rick- 
yard, there was once a fine bowling-green, and a public-house 
known by the same name, much frequented by the principal 
inhabitants of Bicester : Time has laid his destructive hand 
on both, and their existence is almost forgotten. 

In the days of superstition the canons of St. Edburg much 
encouraged the people to frequent St. Edburg's well, whose 
Waters were considered a sovereign remedy in many diseases. 
Early as the days of Edward I. the spring had attained its re- 
putation ; and the road leading from the priory towards it 
was called Seynt Edburg lies grene way, and Via Sanctse 

g2 



84 PRIORY OF ST. EDBURG. 

Edburge. It was afterwards called Edburg balk, and thence 
corrupted into Tadbury balk ; but even the latter name is 
now almost obsolete. "After the Reformation, the lame and 
blind ceasing to resort to this well with their vows and offer- 
ings, the saints having lost their honour and the wells their 
virtue, the current of the spring became stopped up, andall re- 
membrance of it was fast hastening into oblivion," when, for- 
tunately for St. Edburg, "the summer of 1666 proving remark- 
ably dry, induced Mr. John Coker, then lord of the manor of 
King's-end, in which field it was situated, to open and cleanse 
the head of the spring; when such a sudden and great sup- 
ply of water gushed forth, that had the old adorers lived, they 
would have esteemed it a miracle." From this circumstance 
the spring obtained the name of New-found spring, which it 
still retains. The narrow passage between the houses in 
King's-end, as well as the road now used as a foot-path to 
Middleton, was originally made for the sole purpose of visit- 
ing this well ; for we are informed by Kennett that " the green 
balk extends half a mile in length, leading to no other place 
but the head of the spring ICI ." This well is situated a short 
distance north of a barn &c. erected on the inclosure of the 
field, now in the occupation of Mr. Reynolds, and may be no- 
ticed as the head of the adjoining rivulet. A few years ago it 
was generally admired, as a clear and beautiful spring : but 
when I saw it last (in 1815) it was nearly choked up with 
weeds, and the surrounding ground a perfect marsh. Still 
I cannot close this article without indulging the hope that its 
ancient celebrity will secure the future notice of the inhabi- 
tants of Bicester, so as to prevent the spring from being neg- 
lected and consigned to oblivion. 

In the thirtieth of Henry VIII. the priory, with great part 



101 In the time of Kennett the herbage of this balk belonged to the tithing- 
man of King's-end. -p. 133. 



PRIORY OF ST. EDBURG, 85 

of its possessions, is said by Tanner to have been granted to 
Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk, and brother-in-law to the 
King I02 : but it appears shortly after to have been again in 
the hands of the King ; for in the thirty-second year of his 
reign (A. D. 1540) letters patent were granted to Roger 
Moore, Esq. conveying the site, lands, and tenements of the 
dissolved priory, to himself and his wife, and their heirs I0? . 
The grant included the patronage of the church, and the rights 
which were appertaining thereto, insomuch that we find him 
in the following year (1541) delegating the right of presen- 
tation pro hac vice to Bennet Wilkins and Thomas Shore of 
Bicester I04 . The monastery and estates passed to his de- 
scendants, who finally sold them ; and after several purchases 
became the property of the Turners, in whose family it still 
remains. 

The particulars of the possessions at Letcomb Basset be- 
longing to the priory of Bicester are thus entered in the books 
which formerly belonged to the office of the Court of Augmen- 
tation, in order to be sold to Mistrys Russel, and the entry 
gives us a fair specimen of the way in which church lands were 
valued and disposed of at that time. 



ina Notitia Monastica : Bureester, Oxfordshire. 

ipj " De Uteris Regis patentibus Rogcro More et uxore de terris et tene- 
ments pertinentibus ad nnper Prioratum de Burchester alias Byssetur, in Co- 
mitatu Oxonire, sibi baeredibus masculis concessis." Micbselis Recordas, 
32 Hen. VIII. Rotulo 44. Jones's hide?* to Public Records. 

10 * To prevent the poorer classes of society from becoming sufferers by the 
dissolution of religious houses, and the consequent failure of that entertain- 
ment they were accustomed to receive at the table of the convent, it was or- 
dered that hospitality should be kept up by the farmers of the land belonging 
to the late monasteries, under the penalty of paying every month six pounds 
thirteen shillings and four pence : yet the penalty not being often required, 
hospitality was neglected, so that the forfeitures being great, were abolished 
at the request of Parliament, 21 James I. Hist, of Henry VIII. by Lord 
Herbert. 



86 PRIORY OF ST. EDBURG. 



Idit. tent.^ 
isset. p d p. > iiij 
fest. ibid J 



P'cell possession' mip' Monast'ij de Burchestir in 
predico' Com. Oxon. l0S 

Com. Bark. I 1 

Letcomb Basset. | val in j Item sum reddit. 

terr. in letcom basset, 
ann. soluend. ad fest. 
Memorandum the p'misses is entyre of themselfes and par- 
cell oflfno honor Manor ne Lordshippe neany of the ancy- 
ent Revennews off the Crowne nor of the Duchesse of 
Lancastre or Cornewall, and are not nyghe any the Kynge 
and Queene their maiesties howses reserved for their 
hynes acce'se. 
It'm there are no parke lead ne mynes thereupon to th'au-* 

ditor his knowledge. 
It'm it is to be consydered what woodes or underwoodes 
be upon the same for that yt is unknowen to th'audytor. 
Ex tertio die Maij 1557. per me Johani Thomson, audit, 
vj»die Maij 1557. f Jhe clere.^rely value of theT 

Rated for MvstiW P mlSSeS "'J , W rate ? ?' )> cviij" 

Russell I XXV1 J y eres P cnase amounteth f J 

Lto J 

The mony to be payd in hand before the 22 of May 1557. 

The parsonages of Bensington, Drayton, Stodham, Sher- 
borne Clifton, and Overe Io6 , valued at fifty-two pounds per 
annum, are enumerated by Willis as part of the possession of 
Bicester priory, and stated to have been given by patent with 
the rectory and advowson of Stratton-Audley, towards the en- 

105 Harleisn MS. No. 606. In the catalogue of the Harleian Library, the 
rolume from whence the above article is extracted is conjectured to have for- 
merly belonged to the officeof the Court of Augmentation, as it is inscribed "Li- 
ber primus de lez "Ratesannotercio et quarto Philipi et Marie regis et regine.'* 

106 Willis's Cathedrals, vol. ii. p. 422 — 426. But I strongly suspect it 
is by mistake that they are stated as part of the possessions of Bicester 
Priory, and that they originally belonged to Dorchester Abbey. See patent 
34 Hen. VIII. 1342. 



PATRONS, VICARS, ETC. 



«7 



dowmentofthe first chapter of the see of Oxford, A. D. 1542. 
— They are also said to have been regranted on its removal to 
St. Frideswides, 1546, and still to continue annexed. 

The manor of Grimsbury, valued at thirteen pounds six 
shillings and eight pence, with the estates of Kirtlington and 
Tackley, valued at twelve pounds one shilling, were granted in 
the thirty-sixth of Henry VIII. to Thomas Blencowe, Esq. of 
Marston, who appears to have been one of the tenants of the 
priory of Sheene I0T . The other parts of the possessions passed 
into unknown hands. 

List of the Patrons and Vicars of the Church, subsequent 
to the reformation. 



Vicars, &c. 
John Wilkins, presented 
September 21, 1541. 



Thomas Aspler, instituted 
March 8, 1558. 

Richard Aldridge, June 25, 
1564. He resigned the living 
into the hands of JohnKennal, 
guardian of the spiritualities 
Christ Church Oxon. Au- 
gust 16, 1565. 

George Osbath, instituted 
December 4, 1565. 

Robert Cauham. 

John Bird, B. A. presented 
February 15, 1604. 



By whom appointed. 
Roger Moor Esq. granted the 
right of presentation toBennet 
Wilkins and Thomas Shore of 
Bicester, pro hac vice, 

Agnes Wentworth widow. 

Dame Ann Chamberlain, wi- 
dow of Sir Roger Ormeston. 



Dame A. Chamberlain. 



Sir Michael Blount, Kt. 
patron. 



lb 7 I have corrected the amount cf the valuation of these estates, as given 
in the Harleian MS. No. G822, from the records in the Augmentation Office. 



88 PATRONS AND VICARS 

1606. The benefits arising from the composition entered 
into between the Prior and Convent, as proprietors and pa- 
trons of trie church, and John Odam vicar, (A.D. 1454,) had 
been enjoyed by all his successors until very lately, when Sir 
Michael Blount, and Sir Richard his brother, in consequence 
of being seised of the priory, obtained possession of the in- 
strument of endowment and other ancient writings relative to 
the vicarage, and determined to despoil it of part of its reve- 
nues. Accordingly they compelled their tenants to refuse pay- 
ing the vicar John Bird any more tithes of wood, hay, &c. and 
they themselves would no longer discharge the vicarage of 
first-fruits, allow rent to be paid for the inclosed lands, or ad- 
mit the claim of small tithes on their own estates. In this 
dilemma, deprived of the revenues of his church, and for want 
of the instrument of endowment unable to sue at common 
law, the vicar was compelled to have recourse to a suit in Chan- 
cery, whence he obtained a decree, ordering the payment of 
all arrears owing up to the time of the application, and direct- 
ing that, for the future, twenty pounds per annum should be 
paid to the vicar for the inclosed lands, in equal payments at 
Michaelmas and Lady-day; the vicarage to be discharged 
from the payment of first-fruits, tenths, proxies, and synods ; 
the vicar to have the tithe in the common field, and small 
tithes paid according to the composition — to be entitled to a 
close called the Dove -house -close, and to the profits of doves 
breeding in the dove-house — to a little pightle or pig- walk 
adjoining the said close — and finally to have two loads of hay 
brought home to his house, and four loads of wood yearly out 
of the wood called the Prior's wood at Arncote, to be cut down 
at the vicar's charge and request by the assignment of the 
proprietor. This decree was given May 4, 1608 iq8 . 



io8 papers given to the Rev. J. Smith by Mr. Cook of Magdalen College, 
Oxon, which may very properly be henceforth denominated parish papers -y——— 
iny acknowledgements are due to Mr. Wright., for a sight of them in 1812. 



OF THE CHURCH. 89 

Mr. Bird enjoyed this vicarage forty-nine years^ and died 
September 19, 1653 I0 9. Kennett places Mr. William Hall as 
his successor ; but 1 am inclined to conclude that a Mr. Bas- 
net or Barnet obtained the cure, which he held till the year 
1666, when he was ejected as a non-conformist by the Bar- 
tholomew act ; his name does not occur in Kennett's list, but 
he is particularly mentioned in Palmer's Non-conformist's 
Memorial, vol. ii. p. 309. His successors were^ 

William Hall. 

Samuel BlaSkwell, inducted 

August 16, 1670. 
Thos. Shewring,Aug. 1. 1691. Sir William Glynn, Patron. 
Thomas Taylor 110 , 
Thomas Forbes, 
Thomas Airson, 1708 I,r . 

1727. It appears that before, or about this time some 
disputes had arisen between the vicar and patron, respect- 
ing the endowments of the vicarage, part of which seem 



10 9 In the chancel of Wendlebury church is a stone inscribed " Here lies 
the Body of that reverend laborer in Christs harvest, pastor at Bisseter 
Ann. 49, and at Wendlebury- Ann. 39, deceased September 19, 1653, John 
Birde, anno aetafcis 77." 
Anagram. Birde, Bride. 

" This Birdes the bride the lambe the bridegroom 
This graves the brides retireing room 
Old clothes must off new ones be on 
Against a joyful resurrection 
Thrice happy Birde thrice happy bride 
Thus to be wedded next Christ's side 
John Birde a bride mounting aloft doth fly 
To the sacred hills of blest eternity ; 
Which place of rest now terminates his flight 
Crowning his faith with his redeemer's sight." 
Monumental Inscriptions, taken May 25, 1660* No. 4170, Harleian MS, 
110 Kennett, p. 621. 1U Churchwardens' books. , 



90 PATRONS, VICARS, ETC. 

to have been claimed by the latter, and Sir Stephen Glynne 
indicating some desire to dispose of his estates in Bicester, 
the vicar by letter warned him against alienating any part 
which belonged to the church, and formally claimed the 
dove-house and closes adjoining. This letter, however, does 
not appear to have been sufficiently attended to, for the 
following year Mr. Airson considered it necessary to consult 
Serjeant Weldon on the case, — and it seems to have been ul- 
timately laid before Sir Matthew Skinner, who in an opinion 
dated April 19, 1729, recapitulating the substance of the de- 
cree of 1608, says : " The dues settled by that decree can be 
recovered by a writ served on the several tenants II! ." The 
result was a relinquishment of the claims set up by the patron. 

Mr. Airson died March 24, 1752, aged 71. 
J. Princep appointed vicar 1752. ") 
S. Cooke, 1769.-Wood, curate. \ Sir Edward Turner > Bart - 

Joseph Eyre, 1779 '-.-Turner. ^ Q p ^^ ^ 
John Smith. John Markland. i 

Vicarage. 

The vicarage, which adjoins the church-yard, is a substan- 
tial edifice built partly in the Gothic style, and appears of 
considerable autiquity. From the view of it given in the plate 
of the church in Kennett's Antiquities, it is not impossible 
that it may be of nearly equal date with that structure, though 
of late years it has been somewhat modernized. An exten- 
sive garden is attached; but the circumstance of its abounding 
in bones, apparently human, has led many to conjecture that 
it anciently formed a part of the adjoining burying-ground, 
though there is neither tradition nor document which counte- 
nances the opinion. 

111 Parish papers. n * Gentleman's Magazine. 



PARISH CHURCH. 91 

This mansion has been the residence of the viear or offi- 
ciating clergyman for many ages -, and is now occupied by 
Mr. Markland. 



CHAPTER XI. 

Parish Church. 

Having already stated that the present parish church ap- 
pears to have been erected about the latter end of the reign 
of Henry IV. or the beginning of Henry V. l our attention is 
now confined to a description of the edifice. — The church is 
neat, large, and commodious, consisting of a nave and side- 
aisles, chancel, and school-house, with a lofty tower and pin- 
nacles 2 . The length is one hundred and twenty-five feet, and 
the breadth including the side aisles sixty-seven. The walls 
adjoining the chancel are much stronger than any other part, 
and open into the aisles with plain semicircular arches, a cir- 
cumstance which seems to countenance the tradition that 
they were originally intended as the basement of the tower, 
though the plan was afterwards relinquished. The north aisle 
windows retain their original form, but most of the others have 
undergone considerable alterations, and there is little doubt 
those on the south were similar to those on the north side. 
A visitor in May 1660 observed that they contained specimens 
of painted glass, two of which were decorated with armorial 



1 At the time of Kennett's writing there was a tradition that the townships 
of King's-end and Bury-end were united into one parish at the building of 
the new church, previous to which the inhabitants of Biggenhull attended at 
their lord's chapel. — Kennett, p. 510. 

* The edifice is built of stone apparently taken from Bicester stone-pits. 



$2 PARISH CHURCH. 

bearings, and On a third the following imperfect black-letter 
inscription, the deficiency of which another hand has partly 
endeavoured to supply in italics in the MS. 

Orx pro a7a 3fo"W WiXk$n$ zt pre fcona ttatu 

Stficieq; Matvig ejus? . . IVWk^n^ ;jatri£. . . . 

franc fenejtram fieri 

quorum animafcutf propitietur Deus Amen*. . . 

It is not improbable that most of the windows were deco- 
rated in a similar manner \ — a relative, when nearly ninety 
years of age, assured me the chancel window was often admired 
for the painting it contained, in her youth 4 . Since those 
times, all have vanished, and nothing but plain glass occupies 
their place, divested of mullions and tracery. The period of 
these innovations cannot be ascertained, for in the churchwar- 
dens' books (the genuine annals of a parish) the sums alone, 
without the nature of the repair or alteration, are specified, 
and the vouchers are either negligently mislaid or purposely 



3 HarleianMS. No. 4170. — The same MS. notices the following particulars. 
. . . <{ In the north He against the wainscot these depicted. 

Aw on a chevron between 3 lozenges 3 bulls heads. 

Paly of 6, a bend. 

Gu. 2 bars or, impaling s. 3 falcons levant ar. 

G'u. 2 bars or, impaling a. a lion ramp. s. quartering Barry of 6, 
g. and o. 

A. on a bend b. 3 bucks' faces quartering 

quartering Man. 3d as 2d, 4th as 1st. Stanley. 
w Ob a south window here these arms. 

Barry of 6 erm. and g. impaling A 

Barry of 6, in chief a crescent: impaling 3 wolves heads couchant. 

B —— a bordure s. bezanty. 

Barry of 6 erm. and g. in chief a crescent : impaling a. 3 de lis b. 
"In a north window. 

Erm. a fesse compony a. and b." 

4 Mrs. Hannah Chandler of Kensington: she died 15th December 1813 j 
aged 58, 



PARISH CHURCH. 9"3 

destroyed. Were the progressive alterations minutely remark- 
ed, we could forget the expenses of a churchwarden's dinner^ 
while we read with pleasure the ancient state of the parish. 

The appearance of the interior of the church before the Re- 
formation may indeed be tolerably guessed at by the descrip- 
tion of others handed down to us. A rood-loft or narrow gal- 
lery stretched across the body of the church at the entrance of 
the chancel, on which a rood or crucifix was placed, accompa- 
nied by a statue of the Virgin Mary and the beloved disciple St. 
John: the altar stood where the communion-table now stands, 
lighted with tapers, and decorated with similar figures, or a 
crucifix at least. At a low desk in the mid-aisle the litany 
or prayers for the dead were said ; : the pulpit and font probably 
occupied their present places, and the remainder of the floor 
was covered with long open seats 6 many of which still re- 
main, then indiscriminately used by the parishioners. In the 
changes of religion which took place between the days of 
Henry VIII. and Elizabeth, the altar was destroyed, — a com- 
munion-table placed in the body of the church, — was again 
restored, with all its appendages, and then once more displaced 
by the present table. At the latter eventful period the king's 
arms also finally triumphed over the cross, and the Ten Com- 
mandments occupied the station they now retain. Could we 
see the churchwardens' bills of those days, we could ascer- 
tain the number of copes, vestments, and sacred utensils 
necessary for the celebration of the ancient worship, all of 
which were provided by the parish. — Since that time, the la- 
ziness or pride of individuals gave rise to the reprehensible 



5 Peck's Desiderata Curiosa, p. 38, 

9 Before the Reformation, benefactions were often bequeathed for seating a 
* church with benches or stools. — Wharton's History of Kiddington, p. 4* 



94 PARISH CHURCH. 

plan of converting the open seats into family pews 1 ) and an 
increase of this practice, or of the population, soon produced a 
want of accommodation. This led some of the inhabitants and 
others to enter into a subscription for the erection of a gallery 
at the west end of the church 8 (A.D. 1693) ; and to secure 
the seats to the subscribers, their descendants, and others who 
might afterwards take places in it. a faculty was obtained 
May 20, 1700, from the vicar-general of the diocese, autho- 
rising them to "choose yearly two supervisors, who should 
place proper persons therein, and keep the said gallery with a 
lock and key 9 . The two wings of this gallery are expressly 
exempted from this inhibition, being declared private pro- 
perty. The length is stated at sixteen feet, but the depth is 
not specified ; — the front seats appear to have been chiefly ap- 
propriated to the singers, from the period of its erection, and 
it is evident from various charges in the churchwardens' books 
of 1744 and others, that the parish provided a bassoon 10 for 
their use, until they obtained the organ. This instrument was 



7 Weever, who lived in the reign of Elizabeth and James I. speaking of epi- 
taphs on the pavement of churches in and about London, says, " Many mo- 
numents are covered with seates or pewesmade high and easie for parishioners 
to sit or sleep in, a fashion of no long continuance, and worthy of reformation." 
—Funeral Monuments, p. 70 L, London 1631. 

g Gallery-wardens' books. — The principal contributors are Sir William Glynn; 
Ralph Holt, Esq. ; William Busby, E>q. ; Mr. Shewring, vicar, &c. 

9 In 1728, the dour of the gallery seems to have been forced, probably by 
an individual whom the wardens refused admission into the gallery, as appears 

by the following entries. 

£. s. d. 
For horse-hire and other expences, by going to the Justice ? n 7 ^ 

with Goody Bull. .. .. . .' 5 

For a new key and mending the lock of the door. . . . 18 
The present gallery-wardens, Mr. H. Chandler and Mr. W. Lines, js#re 
chosen September 7, 1809. 

10 Paid for mending the bassoon 16*. 3d. —Churchwardens' books for 1744. 



PARISH CHURCH. 95 

purchased of Sir Gregory Turner for fifty pounds, on the de- 
molition of Ambrosden-house, and the sum principally raised 
by subscription, though the same books contain an entry in 
1772 of " Paid Isaac Clarke, Osmond, and T. Stratton, on 
balance due for the organ, eight pounds three shillings." It 
was at first placed much nearer the front of the gallery, but 
shortly removed to its present position, on the representation 
of many of the inhabitants. For some time Mr. Osmond gra- 
tuitously performed the office of organist ; on his leaving the 
town, no inhabitant being found capable of discharging that 
duty with credit, the bassoon was again introduced, till the 
appointment of Mr. Bayzand, since whose death the office has 
been filled by Mr. William Shears and Mr. T. Hicks.— The 
organ is generally admired for its fine tone. 

This gallery-staircase also leads to two other galleries of 
later erection, built over the north aisle, and belonging to 
different inhabitants. A few years ago, another was con- 
structed across the east end of the south aisle, for the family 
of Mr. Davis. In 1810, the still further increased practice 
of family pews having almost deprived the poor of the open 
seats, and many respectable families wanting accommodation, 
a new gallery was thrown over the entrance into the chancel. 
At that time it was placed beyond doubt, that the church 
was partly erected out of the materials of some more ancient 
edifice, carved stones being found in the centre of the walls, 
which were supposed to have ornamented the old church. 
This fabric was considerably injured by a dreadful storm which 
happened on August 3, 1765, the particulars of which are thus 
entered on the cover of the parish register by the officiating 
clergyman at that time : — "Thelighteningstruck the ball from 
the weathercock, shattered the pinnacle, and destroyed the 
roof of the tower; tore down the arch of the bell-window; 
damaged the stock and frame of the great bell, broke the 
chimes, took every pane of glass out of the window and par- 



96 parish church. 

tition, and threw them down into the church ; it then tore 
up the pavement under the gallery, and ascending hroke most 
of the lower windows throughout the edifice." The extent 
of the repair occasioned by this storm is only specified in the 
church-wardens' books by the round sums paid to the dif- 
ferent tradesmen ; a method of keeping those books much to 
be condemned and regretted by. every curious inhabitant 
throughout succeeding generations. 

The pulpit, reading-desk, &c. stand nearly in the centre 
of the church ; the former rests against one of the pillars on 
the south side of the mid-aisle. In time of service they are 
covered with purple velvet purchased at the expense of the 
parish, A. D. 1S10 11 . The font, near the north entrance of 
the church, is ascended by steps, appears very ancient, and 
probably stood in the old church 3 it is sufficiently large to 
admit of the immersion of the infant, as enjoined by the rubric* 
though now entirely laid aside. — Under the gallery hang a 
number of leathern buckets in case of accidents by fire, a lad- 
der, &c. Soon after the formation of a Sunday-school, seats 
were erected near this place for the accommodation of the 
children. At the west end of the north aisle is a desk affixed 
to the wall, on which rests the ponderous volume of Fox's 
Martyrology ; this desk was formerly placed in the chancel, 
and the book chained to it : the covers are now torn off, though 
they still remain chained together. There is no doubt that the 
book was placed in the church in the reign of Queen Eliza- 
beth, and has remained there ever since. 

In 1660 the following were the chief monumental inscrip- 
tions in this church, which were then entered in a volume 
marked N° 4170 in the Harleian Library, 

u It is likely that the former cushion, pulpit-cloth, &e. were the iden- 
tical offering of Sir William Glynn, as I have seen no document which inti- 
mates that any articles of that kind have been purchased by the parish since 
that period. 



MONUMENTAL INSCRIPTIONS. 9/ 

" In the chancel against the north wall, a great gray 
narble raised monument, on a plate of brass affixed to the 
wall, this ; 

&rat? pro aifcu£ IDiHi ^tabrTcp armini quontmm tmi &e fepgneu' zt 
?tficie ujcis tfg fine tt unice ^eretint tini 3CoJ/i.£ #rattnce£ miTiti£ rt tine 
Sfafreiu! uroriS t?$ fiTie et ^eretii? bni $enrici ^Icfpngtcn minti?, qui 
quibem JDWietf ofcit tierima Uie Octofrritf &.©jDfe££CCIr^j:j:toiij. 
pvebicafcero ?tucia Gfcit 20 tne^ctafcri? 3C # &ni ffl&c. quorum aiafcutf &c. 

Against the south wall here a plate of brass, thereon this; 

Here lyeth buried the xx day of September Anno Dm 1551, 
Roger Moore Esq. a second son of More de la More in the County 
of Oxford, and Agnes his wife, daughter and heir of John Husye 
Esquire, the second son of Thomas Husye of Shapwicke, in the 
County of Dorset, who had ishwe by the said Roger Moore, 
Thomas, Mary, and Elizabeth ; the which Thomas was one of 
the Gentlemen Pensioners unto Queen Elizabeth, and in her 
Majestyes service in Ireland, was slaine the 10th of Marce 1574, 
leaving no ishwe of his body, and Mary his eldest sister married 
Michael Blount of Mapledurham in the County of Oxford, Esq. 
-and had ishwe Richard, Thomas, Charles, Katheryne and Mary, 
and Elizabeth his second sister married Gabriel Fowler of Tysel- 
worth in the County of Bedford and had issue Rychard, Mary, 
Agnes, Elizabeth, and James. 

Over all, these arms ; 

A fesse dauncetty paly of 6, s. and g. between three mullets 
s. quartering a chevron between three annulets g, a crescent. 
Impaling barry of six erm. and g. in chief a crescent. Over 
it two crests. The first, a demy lion ramp. a. charged with a' 
fesse dauncetty; the second, a talbot pass, chained and col- 
lared, charged on the shoulder with a crescent. 

Blount y O. 4 bars nebulee s. quartering, first, a tower, 
second, two wolves pass, within a bordure, in chief between 
these two coats a crescent; third, vaire; fourth, a pale; fifth, a 

11 



98 MONUMENTAL INSCRIPTIONS. 

greyhound ramp.; sixth, a chevron between three pheons; 
seventh, as the first. Impaling Moore. Quartering, first, a 
fesse between three annulets ; second, barry of 6 erm. and g. in 
chief a crescent; fourth as first. The crest, a wolf passant 
upon a crowne. 

Fowler, Vert, on a chev. between three lyons pass. gard. 
three crosslets ; quartering, first, three bars g. in chief a lyon 
pass. g. ; second, a. three wolves heads erased, g. a bordure v. 
of castles o.; third .... a chief per pale .... and erm. in the 
first an owle. Impaling More, quartering the annulets and 
Husye. The crest an owle gorged with a crowne. 

The two following are on brass plates in the wall which 
parts the Mid Aisle from the chancel in large Roman cha- 
racters. 

Here lyethe the body of John Coker who departed this life the 
14 of Feb. 1606. Here alsoe lyeth y e body of Joane Coker 
wife of the said John Coker, who departed this life the 1 6 of 
May An 1618. 

Here also lyeth the body of Anne Coker wife of Cadwallader 
Coker eldest sofie to the saide John Coker and Joane his wife who 
departed this life the 20 day of Aug. 1625 12 . 

Here also lie y € bodies of Cadwallader Coker abovenamed and 
Catherine his second wife. He Dec. 15 Oct. 16*53, JEt, 82. She 
8 May U335. JEt. 36 They had issue, John, Cadwallader, Fran- 
ces, William, Catherine, Joane, and Elizabeth. 

On an adjoining plate on the wall, 

Here lyeth the body of John Lewes, born in Lyn in the county 
of Carnarvon, Gent, who for the love he bare to the said John 



19 The MS. Copy taken in 1650 gives an inscription as follows, which it de- 
scribes as being on the floor. " Here lieth the body of Cadwallader Coker 
who living succeeded his father abovementioned in hismanorof Nun's Place, 
and after death in this grave, Obit Oct. 15, A. D. 1653." 

Query, Has this inscription been removed, oris it covered by the pews ? 



MONUMENTAL INSCRIPTIONS. 99 

Coker desired by his will to be buried neere him. He dyed in 
Oxford on the 21 day of September, ]6l2. 

Near it is the following in black letter. 

i^eare ipcrfr ourieb tfre 93ob£>e of JDittm $ort at gart 4Sent. tofco tn? 
ceafeb tfoe 5tJ; of 3!uTi? 1584. 2Cnb aifo t»it& frm tpetpe ourgeb 2tnn t)i£ 
l©iffe, tofro torn? oau0&ttT unto jfiUr. ftftton of £ro1tone in t&e Count? 
of Sancafrer 4Sfauiuc anb beceaf^efc t&e 6 of 3Cu0uft fottotoin0e 1584 anij 
tab iffue 5 fonne£ anb 4 bau0f)ter£. 

Against a pillar not far off, a table of black marble, whereon 
this in golden letters ; 

Anne Clements, the wife of Mr. Richard Clements, by whome 
he had 4 sons, George, Richard, Thomas, Benjamin, and 6 daugh- 
ters, Elizabeth, Anne, Grace, Anne, Judith, Grace, she departed 
this life the 28th of May A. D. 1652, of her age 39, 

Reader, as in a glasse, thou perfectly may see 
How all things here below uncertaine bee 
She was her husband's, children's, parent's sole delight, 
By death's impartial stroke is taken from them quite. 

In the south isle on a brasse on the ground this, 

Here lyeth buried the body of Rafe Hunt, who was borne in 
Lankeyshire, in the Parish of Chilve, he was a long dweller in the 
town of Bissiter, and a good benefactor to the poore. He had two 
wyves, Ellen and Katherine, and had issue by Katherine one only 
daughter named Anne. He deceased the last dayof November 1002. 

Towards the bottom of the south He against the wall a 
brasse, thereon this, 

Here lyeth buried the bodye of Homfrye Hont and Eliza- 
beth his wife. The which had Issue, fyve sonnes and three daugh- 
ters, and was borne in Cliff Howse in Lankeshire and deceased the 
xxiiij day of Maye in the yeare of our Lord God 1(501." 

Such appear to have been the chief inscriptions in the 
h2 



100 MONUMENTAL INSCRIPTIONS. 

year 1660, the following monuments are among the most 
prominent which have been since added. 

In the chancel is an elegant monument of white marble, 
secured with iron rails, to the memory of Sir Edward Turner 
Bart, and his Lady, at the top of which is a medallion con- 
taining the profiles of the deceased. The inscription as fol- 
lows. 

Under this Chancel in a Family Vault are deposited the remains 
of Sir Edward Turner Bart, and Dame Cassandra his wife, 
late of Ambroseden Park in this County. He died October 31st 
17(30. She, October IS, 1770, aged each 48 years. He was 
Representative in three Parliaments ; one for this county. He 
exerted himself as an active and vigilant Magistrate ; adopted early 
in life the noblest political principles, and persevered in them to 
the end. He was learned without vanity, religious without osten- 
tation ; and excell'd in the great characters of Husband, Father, 
and Friend. 

His sorrowful Widow (eldest daughter of William Leigh Esqr. 
of Adlestrop in the County of Gloucester) was beautiful in per- 
son, and engaging in her manner, won the esteem of all who knew 
her. A shining example of conjugal Affection, and evory christian 
virtue. To her children an indulgent Mother, to Servants a kind 
Mistress, to the Poor, living and dying, a compassionate Benefac- 
tress, as a memorial to posterity of some, only, of the many vir- 
tues of this excellent pair their five surviving Children, 

Sir Gregory Turner Bart. William TurneEsq. John Turner 
Esq. Elizabeth Wife of Thomas Twisleton Esqr. of Broughtoa 
Castle in this County, and Cassandra wife of Martin Bladen Hawke 
Esqr. eldest son of the Right Honourable Sir Edward Hawke, 
K. B : have erected this monument. 

On a marble tablet over the chancel door 3 
H. S. E. 
Proba casta pia Sarah Kennett, Filia unica et dilecta Roberti 



MONUMENTAL INSCRIPTIONS. 101 

Carver et Mariae Conjugis, Uxor charissima Whiti Kennett S.T.B. 
Vicarii de Ambroseden 13 . 

Nata £8 Maii 1675 

Nupta 6 Junii l6g3 

Defuncta 2 Marti i \6g{ 
Cujus mortem nimis immaturam lugent Mavitus et Parentes 
mcestissimi m.dc.xciv. 

On the floor in the chancel. 

Here lyeth y e body of Mrs. Sarah Kennett, who dyed the 2 
of March 1693. Aged 18 years and |. 

Opposite on a mural marble monument in the chancel, 

H. S. E. 
Kobertus Carver, 
Vir morum probitate dilectus et desideratus. Uxorem duxit 
Mariam filiara natu max. Willelmi Barley et Mariae Conjugis, 



•3 As the decease of this excellent young person is still annually commemo- 
rated in Bicester by a sermon and donation of forty loaves, on the 2nd of 
March, the following letter, written by Mr. Kennett to bis friend Mr. Blackwall, 
corn-eying the intelligence of that sad event, may be deemed interesting. 

" Oh ! Mr. Blackball, how can I write to you when I am so full of confusion 
and distraction, for the inestimable loss of my poor dear wife, whom my cor- 
recting father in heaven was pleased to take to himself this last night between 
twelve and one. You can scarce imagine the sorrow and lamentation of her 
father and mother and her desolate husband. We have scarce patience to 
talk of any thing relating to her funeral, only we all agree in this request that 
you would do the last office for the good creature, and preach her sermon 
either at Burcester or Amersden, as we shall think good when we come to be 
able to think. We think Monday must be the appointed day, which we know- 
will be very inconvenient for you ; but pray, good Mr. Blackwall, dispense 
with any inconvenience to grant a request that is so passionately made to you, 
and come hither time enough to doe that mournful service. If any extraordi- 
nary matter should detain you (but let nothing less than extraordinary doe it) 
dispatch this messenger with expedition ; nay, whether you come or not let 
him tarry -no longer than while you send some answer. Oh! this affliction 
was a sad surprise to me. I had but one day to spend in prayers 3nd tears 



102 MONUMENTAL INSCRIPTIONS. 

Ex qua unicam suscepit Filiam Saram, quae nupta Whito Kennett 
Clerico immatura morte praerepta est et juxfa deposita : Obiit ille 
die 1° Aprilis, anno Salutis mdcxcviii. iEtatis ltii. 

In eodem pariter sepulchro super ossa Mariti jacet Maria 
Uxor ejus. Obijt 19 Dec. A. D. 1722, ^Etatis lxx. 

On the chancel wall is a marble tablet to the memory of 5 
children of Samuel BlackwalL, S.T.B. formerly vicar of this 
church. 

Within the rail of the communion table on the ground, 

M. S. 
Thom^e Airson hujusce Ecclesiae per triginta sex annos Vi- 
carii. Obiit Martii 24 to 1 752, Anno. ^Etat. 7l mo . 

Also Hannah, the wife of Thomas Airson, Vicar, who died 
June 13, 1751. Aged 69 years. 



with her ; when she spent many of her decaying spirits in rejoicing there had 
never been the least difference between us, in thanking me for all my love, in 
protesting her own true affection, and in a sensible way of expressing her re- 
signation to God Almighty, and saying she had no other reason to be unwilling 
to die but only that she must part with a dear mother and dear father, and 
the dearest husband in the world. Oh, Mr. Blackwall, for my own sake I 
wish you may not these many years suffer the loss of an excellent wife ; and 
for the sake of my sorrowful father and mother wish you may never suffer the 
loss of an only child. 

" Your afflicted friend, 
" March 2, 169|. « White Kennett. 

u My mother orders me to add that she shall never be satisfied if you are 
in life and health unless you come and preach her child's funeral sermon. 

« To Mr. BlackwalL" 

The original letter is preserved among a collection of letters of Dr. Kennett 
to Mr. S. Blackwall, Lansdowne MSS. 1063, Vol. 2, Brit. Mus. 

Notwithstanding this pressing request, it appears from a following letter 
that Mr. Blackwall could not comply with it. Mr. Coker was therefore 
prevailed upon to undertake the service, but while preparing his notes for the 
sermon, was suddenly seized with an " indisposition in the head," so that it 
was at last performed at Ambrosden by Mr. Northgrove. 



MONUMENTAL INSCRIPTIONS. 103 

Here lye four children of Thomas Airson, Vicar of this church, 
and Hannah his wife, viz. Mary, John, Hannah, and Thomas, 
who died young. 

Thomas Forbes hujus Ecclesiae Vicarius ob. x ma iv t0 die 
Octob. Anno. 1715. Anno iEtat. 44. 

In the chancel on the floor, is a small marble stone, 

Hie Jacet GKjlielmus Filius Stephani Glynne de Merton Ar- 
migeri, qui obiit 20, Decern. Anno Dom. 

The date is obliterated 14 . 

On the ground going out of the chancel into the church 
three inscriptions to the memory of Thomas, Cadwallader, and 
Sara Coker, infant sons and daughters of Thomas and Sara 
Coker; and a fourth inscribed " Hearst Coker, Ob. 5 No- 
vemb. 1719." 

On the north-side of the mid aisle is a white marble monu- 
ment, with a Latin inscription to the memory of Catherine 
Coker, daughter of John Coker, Gent, and Catherine his 
wife ; and near it a similar tablet in remembrance of John 
Coker, Gent., and Catherine his wife. 

On the north side of the middle aisle is a very elegant 
marble monument, ornamented with an erect figure bearing 
a sithe in his hand over a bust, from which are suspended 
two small medallions, with the inscription of Carolus II. Dei 
gratia. — Beneath is the following, 

Spe Resurgendi ; 

Juxta depositi sunt cineres Thom^e Grtvntham Equitis Au- 



14 On the north side of the chancel, near an hatchment and helmet, are 
some irons fastened in the wall; these are said to have supported several funeral 
banners, streamers, &c. in honour of some of the Glynns, formerly patrons of 
the church. Query. — For what member of that family were they placed 
there ? 



104 MONUMENTAL INSCRIPTIONS. 

rati, natus in bac Parochia de Bissister, Obijt Sunburiae in Co- 
mitate Midd x Anno iEtatis suae lkxx, Salutisque humanae 

MDCCXVlIi 

Grantham Andrews de Sunbury Nepos e\ r filia unicus et Haeres 
summa pietate et gratitudine erga Parcntem et benefactorem 
munificentissimum hoc Monumentum posuit. 

On the same side on a handsome variegated marble Tablet. 

Near to this place lie the Remains of Cad\vall\der Coker 
Citizen of London, who died on the eleventh day of January, in 
the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, and 
in the seventieth of his Age. 

By a long and uniform course of assiduity, prudence, and in-" 
tegrity, he acquired with an unblemished reputation the means of 
exercising his natural disposition to benevolence, and at the same 
time discharged his duty to his Country, by promoting a, d ex- 
tending her Commerce. His surviving Widow and six Children 
caused this stone to be erected in grateful testimony of the merits 
of an affectionate Husband and beneficent Parent. 

On a black stone, 

To the Memory of Ralph Clements, who departed this Life 
the 30th of Octob. A° Dohi 10*83, in the 74 yeare of his Age. 

On the south side of the middle Aisle, 

In the first year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord King James 
the 2nd 1685. The Honoured Sir Wm. Glynne of Ambrosden 
in the County of Oxford, Bart. Patron of this Church, gave for the 
use of such who are of the Communion of the Church of England, 
two large Flaggons of massy silver. One silver Salver, One silver 
Chalice and Cover, a large Carpet of purple velvet with gold and 
silk fringe for the Communion table, A purple velvet Cushion 



15 It is said that the metal coffin containing the body of Sir Thomas was 
stolen by some workmen several years ago, and the bones thrown into one 
corner of the vault. 



MONUMENTAL INSCRIPTIONS. 105 

with gold and silk tassels, A purple velvet Cloth with gold and 
silk fringe for the ornament of the Pulpit. 

Facing the middle Aisle (towards the Chancel) a marble monu- 
ment inscribed ; 

To the memory of Mr. Robert Jejhmett of this Parish (a true 
Son of the Church of England) who died the 29 Day Octr. 1736, 
Aged 63 years. 

And also Elizabeth his disconsolate Wife who departed this life 
the 2nd Day of Octo r . 1746, Aged 80 years. Who to the sacred 
Memory of her loving Husband erected this Monument. 

He was sole giver of the Branch in this Church. 

In the middle Aisle on the ground ; 

Under this stone lie the remains of Robert Coker, Esq. who 
departed this life the )6 Day of April in the year of our Lord 
1789, Aged 79- 

The Honorable Charlotte Coker, 1794. 

On the south side are monuments to the memory of John 
Walker who died January 28, 1783, aged 80, and Ann his 
wife who died January 28, 1772, aged 58. John Walker who 
died September 2, 1810, aged 70 ; and Hannah his wife who 
died January 2, 1790, aged 38. At the west end a monument 
for Elizabeth, wife of Richard Walls who died November 3, 
1737; aged 36. Their two daughters Anne and Elizabeth; 
and the above Richard Walls who died October 22, 17-53, 
Aged 45. 

Few of the remaining monuments containing more than 
the birth and decease of the person to whose memory they are 
erected, the limited nature of this work will not allow of the 
inscription being given at length ; it is hoped, therefore, that 
the following abbreviation of their contents will be excused. 

On the south side a monument to the memory of John King, 
who died May 4, 1760, aged 76. Edward Lock, his nephew, 
^vho died August 26, 1772. Edward Lock, father, Janu- 



106 MONUMENTAL INSCRIPTIONS. 

ary 13, 1762, aged 80. Sarah, wife of the latter, died Fe- 
bruary 2, 1748, aged 54. Elizabeth, their daughter, died 
October 12, 1733, aged 7 years. Sarah, their daughter, wife 
of Thomas Harris of Oxford, died May 27, 1765, aged 45. And 
John, son of T. and S. Harris, who died September 6, 1760, 
in the 12th year of his age. 

Opposite, in the south Aisle, is an inscription to the memory 
of Sarah, wife of Joseph Kendall, who died July 11, 1803, 
aged 23. Nearly opposite to Walker's is a tablet which 
states that Elizabeth, daughter of John and Elizabeth Hicks, 
died June 19, 1741, aged 12 years. John, son of the above, 
died June 12, 1758, aged 35. John Hicks, sen. died Novem- 
ber 21, 1760, aged 66. And Elizabeth, his wife, who died 
December 23, 1768, aged 74. 

In the north aisle a monument to the memory of Thomas 
Russel, late of St. James's, Westminster, who died January 4, 
1718, aged 48. His wife, Elizabeth Walworth, who died 
March 13, 1734, aged 64 ; and a memorandum of two sons 
and five daughters, who died infants. A monument in me- 
mory of Gabriel Burrowes, who died March 14, 1676, aged 
42. William, the son of John and Ann Finch, died May 16, 
1701. John Finch, citizen of London and grocer in this 
town, born at Warfield, Berks., died February 1 1, 1707, aged 
5S; and Ann, his wife, who died July 30, 1720, aged 81. 
On the same side a mural monument, which states that Mary, 
wife of John Burrowes, jun., died September 16, 1724, aged 
29 years ; and a memorandum of the birth and death of their 
three infants, Mary, Sarah, and Benjamin. A similar mo- 
nument near the former, to the memory of Mary, the wife of 
John Burrowes, who died July 1, 1706, aged 39. John Bur- 
rowes, who was baptized March 29, 1666, and buried March 
13, 1732, and four of their children. Inscriptions for Robert 
Evans, who died May 18, 1688, aged 56 years. Elizabeth, 
wife of John Woodfield, who died March 13, 1742, aged 61 



THE TOWER. 107 

years. John Woodfield, who died May 10, 1753, aged 82. 
John Blake who died May 24, 1777, aged 61. Ann his wife 
who died February 20, 1789, aged 59 ; and two of their sons. 
William Eagles of Aylesbury, who departed this life March 28. 
1810, aged 62 . And William his son who died December 3 1 , 
1808, aged 38. 

The Tower contains a good ring of bells l6 , clock I? and 
chimes, the latter playing every four hours. It is divided into 
three stories ; the first floor is the belfry, the third appropri- 
ated to the chimes, and the uppermost to the bells. Every 
evening at eight o'clock a bell is rung, which practice has 
been continued through every age since the Conquest, and may 
be properly denominated the Curfew ,8 . From the top of the 
tower is a good prospect of the surrounding country. Its 
height is seventy-five feet, and the square of the base twenty. 

THE SCHOOL. 

This building adjoins the north side of the chancel, and is 
continued from the north aisle of the church, into which there 
is an entrance. It appears of later erection than the other 



16 The tower contains six bells and a sanclus or saints bell, the latter takes 
its name from being rung out when the priest came to these words, Sancte, 
Sancte, Sancte DeusSabaoth, that all persons absent might fall down on their 
knees in reverence of the holy office going on in the church. — Warton's Kid- 
dington, p. 8. Note. 

John Coker Esq. has lately offered to be at half the expense of purchasing 
two additional bells to the tower, but the object has not been accomplished for 
want of equal liberality in others. 

l i The clock does not appear in the plate of the church in Kennett's Anti- 
quities. 

18 I have adopted the popular opinion respecting the curfew-bell, in repre- 
senting it as introduced by William, as a badge of servitude; but according to 
some the assertion is not well-founded, for there is evidence of the custom pre- 
vailing in most of the countries of Europe, and intended as a precaution against 
fires, which were then very fatal, most of the houses being built of wood. — See 
Henry, p. 355. vol. 6. 



10$ THE SCHOOL. 

parts of the fabric ; though at what time is unknown : but 
most probably soon after the Reformation. The inside is 
fitted up with desks and other conveniencies. Over it is a 
room formerly used as a library, and containing a number of 
books, some of which are valuable ; the catalogue remains in 
the hands of Mr. Markland. The School is generally thought 
to have been endowed, though every writing relative thereto 
is said to be entirely lost. In the Magna Britannia it is called 
a Free school, " supposed to be founded by Simon Wisdome, 
an alderman I9 of this town ; but," the writer adds, st we have 
no other grounds for our supposition than that he is found to 
have given constitutions and orders for the government of it 
in the thirteenth year of the reign of Queen Elizabeth 2 °." 

The school seems to have been placed under the immediate 
direction of the vicar, though at what time it ceased to be a 
free school is uncertain. The name of Kennett appearing in 
the list of benefactors in the catalogue of books given for the 
use of the scholars seems to intimate that it had not ceased 
to be such at the time when that gentleman assisted Mr. 
Blackwall both in the duties of the school, and the church ; 
and even the bare reflection of our present ignorance of this 
institution is sufficient to produce the greatest regret, that 
any thing should have ever arisen to prevent the industrious, 
learned, and pious author of the Parochial Antiquities from 
continuing that excellent work down to his own time. 

the church-yard. 

The space allotted for a burying-ground is well adapted 
for an extensive parish and its dependencies, though some 
have supposed it to have once extended over a part of the 
vicarage garden. The ground is much higher than the ad- 

19 Perhaps " inhabitant.-' °-° Vol. iv. p. 399. ed. 1727. 



THE CHURCH- YARD. 10<J 

joining streets, but whether arising from interments, or na- 
tural elevation, is uncertain. From its proximity to the old 
town of Berencester, and no vestiges of sepulture having been 
found in any other part of the parish, I am inclined to believe 
this spot is the original burying-ground, and not unlikely the 
site of the former church, notwithstanding the assertion of 
Kennett to the contrary. — A path is admitted under the north 
wall, and used by the parishioners as a thoroughfare; this is 
shaded by elms, and maybe considered as the chief promenade. 
One of the principal objectsin the church-yard is the stone pe- 
destal on which the sun-dial is placed, inscribed with the church- 
wardens' names and the year of erection. The ascent is by 
several steps, which anciently were the steps to the cross; in 
the days of popery considered a necessary appendage to the 
church-yard. — There are several tombs, some of recent erec- 
tion, but none above mediocrity ; that at the end of the chan- 
cel, surrounded by iron rails, and erected to the memory of 
Bowden, a butcher in London, was broken by light- 
ning in the dreadful storm of August 3, 1765, and, until a 
few months ago, remained unrepaired. On the south side of 
the church-yard is the grave of Edward Bowden, who was 
murdered by his journeyman George Strap, and for which, as 
the stone informs us, he was tried, found guilty at Oxford, 
hanged^ and his body given to the surgeons to be anatomized. 



no 



THE CHURCH-YARD. 



The following is an abbreviated alphabetical list of names 
on the Tombs and Gravestones in the Church Yard. 



TOMBSTONES. 



NAMES 

Wm. Allen 
Thos. Eagles 
Sarah his wife 
Etiz. ditto 
John Green 
Geo. Howiett 



DIED AGE 

13 Aug. 179? 55 y r 

24 Apr. 1787 70 

25 Mar. 1749 25 
27 Nov. 1798 82 

10 May 1723 78 

11 Mar. 1757 62 



NAMES DIED AGE 

Edward King 18 A us;. 1784 44y r 
Richard Kirby 14 Feb. 1772 55 
Mary his wife 20 Dec. 1784 67 
WiiliamRobins29 Aug. 1776 26 
Sarah his wife 16 Oct. 1772 25 
Ann Woodford 22 Dec 1759 83 



GRAVESTONES. 



NAMES DIED AGE 

Samuel Baker, 10 Mar. 1810 60y r * 
Ami his wife 7 Aug. 1787 35 
William Ball 18Dec. 1785 76 
John Barker 21 Feb. 1776 60 
John Bathe 23 Apr. 1791 4-4 
Hannah Bishop 21 Nov. 1792 81 
T. M. Blowfield 5June 1814 55 
Johra Boffin 24 June 1811 41 
Edw. Bowden Murdered (by Strap; 

21 Nov. 1774 55 
Rd. Buckle 12 Dec. 1786 43 
Ann his wife 13 May 1788 40 
Jon. Burnard 1 Nov. 1813 73 
Eliz. his wife 2 Apr. 1797 62 
William Busby 16 Mar. 1792 49 
Robt. Carter * 25 July 1787 55 
John Castle 3Ncv. 1789 36 

Eliz. his wife 12 Oct. 1786 42 
Matthew Clarke 15 Dec. 1779 75 
John Cleaver 2 Feb. 1794 76 
Edward Crook 30 July 1801 39 
Amy his wife 23 Aug. 1803 41 
Richard Cox 15 Dec. 1723 J3 
George Foster 24 Aug. 1802 66 
Eliz. Harris 10 May 1799 46 
Jos. Humphrey, 11 Aug. 1781 85 



Fran. Jennings 13 Mar. 
John Jones 7 June 

Richard Jessop 24 July 
Richard Kendal 12 Aug. 
John Kent 24 Feb. 

Thos. Kingstone 24 July 
Lawrence Lord Mar. 
John Pavier 3 Dec. 
Sarah Phillips 26 Mar. 
William Potter 22 Oct. 
Susanna his wife 20 May 
Thos. Reading 20 Aug. 
Rd. Reading 1 Dec. 
Henry Rolls 19 Jan. 
John Sanders 25 Jan. 
W. Shillingford 12 Sep. 
Robt. Shirley 6 May 
John Sirett 18 Oct". 
John Stevens 14 Mar. 
Wm. Tanner 8 May 
Thos. Timms* 14 Aug. 
Johannahiswife 5 May 
Wm.Whichelle20 Sep. 
Paul his son 20 Sep. 
Wm. Woodcock 27 June 
Mary Wright 31 Mar. 



1801 


56y 


1807 


55 


1805 


88 


1813 


73 


1800 


33 


1781 


59 


1785 


88 


1782 


72 


1809 60 


1809 56 


1803 


59 


1803 


63 


1812 


42 


1777 


57 


1802 34 


1761 


62 


1308 


77 


1812 


54 


1803 


37 


1799 


46 


1754 


49 


1785 


84 


1772 


60 


1772 


22 


1795 


65 


1812 


40 



# Maternal grandfather to the writer. The stone is placed beneath the 
Chanel windows. 



THE CHARITY SCHOOL. Ill 



CHAPTER XII. 



Charity School, — Sunday School. — Hermitage, Chapel of 
St. John, cWc. 

It is most probable this institution took its rise on the de- 
cline of the Free-school before mentioned; the endowments 
or funds of which being diverted into other channels, or mis- 
applied by those in trust, awakened in the minds of the inha- 
bitants, and the surrounding gentry, the deepest concern for 
the education of the rising generation. Rightly judging that 
the diffusion of knowledge tends ultimately to the benefit of 
society, especially when extended to the lower classes, the fol- 
lowing agreement was drawn up and circulated in the town and 
neighbourhood. — " Whereas profaneness and debauchery are 
greatly owing to a gross ignorance of the Christian religion, 
and for want of an early and pious education of youth, espe- 
cially among the poorer sort ; And whereas many poor people 
are desirous of having their children taught, but are not able 
to afford them a Christian and useful education ; We, whose 
names are under written, do hereby agree to pay yearly, at four 
equal payments, the several sums of money over-against our 
names respectively subscribed,for the settingupaCharity-school 
in the parish of Burcester in the county of Oxon, for teaching 
to read, and instructing in the knowledge and practice of the 
Christian religion as professed and taught in the church of 
England, thirty boys out of the aforesaid and neighbouring 
parishes, viz. — Ammersden, Bucknell, Launton, Chesterton, 
and Wendlebury; and the better to encourage the same, we 
do further agree not to withdraw our subscription-money 
without giving a year's notice thereof; for which good pur- 
poses we do readily and willingly subscribe the following 
sums to commence from Michaelmas 1721. 






1 1 2 THE CHARITY SCHOOL. 

Anonymous, 5/. Os. Od. John Ld. Bp. of Oxon. 2L Os.Qd. 
Lord Abingdon, 51. Os. Od. Rev. Mr. Airson, &c. &C 1 

These subscriptions laid the foundation of the school, which 
was opened and continued in the Free School House, ad- 
joining the church, for several years. It has been since suc- 
cessively removed to the Town-hall, and Guard-room, in which 
latter place it still continues. The school is at present sup- 
ported by the subscriptions of the inhabitants of Bicester, and 
the collections made at an annual sermon preached for that 
purpose, in the parish church: but the objects of admission 
are now entirely restricted to the children of poor parishioners. 

In the year 1725 a gentleman in the neighbourhood who 
subscribed largely to the school, declared unless the children 
were employed in some sort of work, to accustom them to 
labour, he would withdraw his subscription : 

Upon this the trustees determined that the children should 
be employed in spinning Jersey ; a woollen garter-weaver in 
the town agreed to supply them with work, and a person was 
engaged to teach them to spin. In June of the same year, 
the utensils were purchased, and about the middle of the 
month they made a beginning. 

It was proposed that they should work during the school- 
hours only, six boys to work one day in the week, and the fol- 
lowing day six others, &c. — At this time, all the rage was for 
employing the poor, and converting the parish-houses into 
work-houses, and it seems Bicester was not backward in try- 
ing the experiment 2 . 

How long this plan was pursued, we have no means of as- 
certaining; but, as the oldest inhabitants have no recollection 



1 The original agreement signed by the different subscribers, is still pre- 
served among the parish papers, and is written on a long slip of parchment. 

"- Account of several work-houses for employing aad maintaining the poor. 
p. i jj. London 1 7 3 2. 



THE CHARITY SCHOOL. 113 

of any such thing, we may presume it was not continued for 
any length of time. 

I have been informed that some of the neighbouring gentry 
have lately offered to add their subscriptions, if the number of 
scholars may be increased, by the introduction of children from 
the neighbouring parishes. This has been hitherto declined. 

The boys are partly clothed and educated ; are provided an- 
nually with a cap, blue coat, and leather breeches new. Their 
general appearance reflects great honour on the liberality of 
the parish; and as they sit in a conspicuous part of the church, 
the attention of the worshipper is naturally called to further 
acts of beneficence. 

This school has lately received a considerable benefaction 
from W. Walker, esq. of Stamford Hill; who, — knowing it to 
have been the intention of his father, (the late John Walker 
Esq. of Hackney,) to settle a part of the interest of one thou- 
sand pounds 3 per cent, consols upon this institution, but which 
by some means was neglected, — did with a truly filial and pi- 
ous liberality carry the design into execution ; and by inden- 
ture appropriated the sum of sixteen pounds annually (de- 
ducting expenses), arising from the above interest, towards 
the support of the school : and as a further benefaction di- 
rected, that in case either or both of the church or meeting- 
house sunday-schools should be discontinued, the annual sum 
of seven pounds given to each, should revert to this chanty. 

The same indenture directs, that the trustees for the dona- 
tion shall have the management of the school ; appoint and 
remove the master, and examine and regulate its concerns. 
The children received, are directed to be those belonging to, 
or residing in the town : they are not to be admitted under 
seven, nor continued beyond fourteen years of age; to be in- 
structed in the principles of the church of England, and in 
reading, writing, and casting accounts. 

Mr. Walker, sen. was for many years a liberal subscriber 

i 



114 THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

to the three schools in this parish ; and it is hoped that the 
noble example he has set will excite in the minds of the opu- 
lent a spirit of emulation in similar acts of beneficence. 

THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 

As long as Sunday-schools are found productive of benefit 
to the lower classes of inhabitants in Bicester, the name of 
Mr .James Jones ought to be remembered with respect and gra- 
titude. To that worthy man, the father of a numerous family 
solely dependent on his exertions, must the origin of these 
establishments in this place be ascribed. Deeply lamenting 
the ignorance and profaneness of the poor, and judging that 
much good might be effected by individual exertion, he re- 
solved to offer instruction to as many as would attend on the 
sabbath, and on a stated evening in the week 3 . The novelty 
of the thing produced a great number of applicants, who were 
readily admitted ; and the change which suddenly appeared in 
the streets was astonishing. But as Mr. Jones's plan em- 
braced instruction in reading, writing, and arithmetic, he soon 
found that his circumstances were unequal to the unavoidable 
expenses incurred. In this dilemma he solicited the patronage 
of the parish. The good already accomplished had con- 
vinced every unprejudiced person of the necessity of providing 
for the continuation of a Sunday-school ; though the policy of 
attempting to instruct the children in any thing more than 
reading, and in the principles of the Christian faith, was justly 
doubted. Even the advocates of Mr. Jones's plan were com- 
pelled to acknowlege that the charity-school already esta- 
blished, offered every advantage to all whose children could 

3 Sunday schools originated with Mr. Robert Raikes, a printer at Gloucester, 
on the representation of the disorderly conduct of the children in the streets 
on a Sunday, by a woman of that place in 1790. He at first defrayed the 
whole expense. The plan was carried into Yorkshire, and gradually extended 
over the kingdom.— Gent. Mag. 1804, p. 410, 



THE HERMITAGE. 115 

avail themselves of daily tuition ; and the advantages of Sun- 
day lessons in writing and arithmetic were at best proble- 
matical. While these points were under discussion^ the dis- 
senters offered their patronage to Mr. Jones : their proposals 
being accepted, the school was immediately transferred to that 
society, and the children taken to the meeting-house. A. D. 
1794. 

This circumstance having decided the fate of the first 
school, no time was lost in endeavouring to establish another, 
not liable to the objections that had been made to the one 
that was first proposed. To further this object, the reverend. 
Joseph Eyre, then vicar, preached a sermon, in which he ur- 
ged every motive for the attainment of the design ; he asked 
6i Shall our brethren the dissenters be forward in so good a 
work, while we remain supine ?" The appeal was felt, and a 
subscription was immediately raised for that purpose. The 
number of scholars of both sexes was limited to one hundred, 
over whom two masters and two mistresses were appointed : 
seats were erected for them in the church ; and the ancient 
free-school appointed for their use, where they still continue 
to resort for the purpose of tuition. 

The school has lately received a donation of seven pounds 
per annum from the late Mr. Walker. 

THE HERMITAGE^ CHAPEL OF ST. JOHN BAPTIST, AND 
INTENDED HOSPITAL. 

1355. In the reign of King Edward III. a few yards be- 
yond the present turnpike-gate in Neiv Buildings, on the site 
of the house and garden occupied by Mr. William Horwood, 
(gardener) stood the solitary abode of Nicholas Jurdan, an 
hermit, and the warden of a chapel dedicated to St. John 
Baptist, which probably was not far distant, or perhaps adjoin- 
ing the Hermitage. — This person on May 25th 1355, ob- 
tained of the king the following licence to erect and found a 

i2 



116 THE HERMITAGE, 

Hospital in Bicester, to endow it with the yearly rent of one 
hundred shillings, for the relief of the said poor, and to main- 
tain one chaplain for ever. 

i( Rex omnibus ad quos, &c. Sciatis quod de gratia nostra 
speciali concessimus et licentiam dedimus pro nobis et haere- 
dibus nostris quantum in nobis est Nicholao Jurdan de Bur- 
cester, heremitae, custodi capellse beati Johannis Baptistce de 
Burcesier, quod ipse quoddam Hospitale pro hospitatione pau- 
perum et infirmorum in honorem Dei et gloriosae Virginis 
Marice matris ejus, et beati Johannis Baptistse apud Burcester, 
de novo fundare et centum solidatas terraeet redditus cum per- 
tinentiis per annum juxta verum valorem eorum, exceptis 
terris tenementis et redditibus quae de nobis tenentur in capite, 
acquirere possit. Habenda et tenenda eidem custodi et suc- 
cessoribus suis in subvention em sustentationis eorundem et cu- 
jusdam Capellani divina in Capella praedicta pro salubri statu 
nostro et Philippae Reginae Angliae consortis ac Edwardi 
Principis Walliae filii nostri carissimi dum vixerimus, et pro 
animabus nostris cum ab hac luce subtracti fuerimus, et ani- 
mabus omnium fidelium defunctorum singulis diebus celebra- 
turi in perpetuum, statuto de terris et tenementis ad manum 
mortuam non ponendis ideo non obstante, &c, Teste Rege 
apud Westminstre, 15 die Maii 4 . 

The silence of Kennett throughout the Parochial Antiqui- 
ties, respecting this hospital, has led Tanner and succeeding 
writers to conclude that the design was never carried into ex- 
ecution J ; perhaps in consequence of the death of the hermit. 
Indeed, the most minute inquiries afford no traces of such an 
establishment. The chapel of St. John Baptist is supposed by 
some to have been valued together with the priory, and demo- 



* Kennett, p. 478. 

^ Tanner's Notitia Monastica. Burcester, Oxfordshire. 



THE HERMITAGE. 117 

lished soon after 6 . And I am inclined to conclude thatKennett 
has been misled by tradition, or some relics of this chapel, to 
suppose the parish church stood in this neighbourhood, when 
in fact, no other sacred edifice was ever founded near the 
spot. 

Besides, all ancient writings uniformly call the Sheep Street, 
Si. John's Street, evidently from the chapel dedicated to that 
saint, either standing in or adjoining to it : whereas, if the old 
church had stood there, it most likely would have given its 
name to the street, especially as the chapel must have been of 
comparatively modern erection. — The idea of the church once 
standing here, may have arisen from the parish having used 
the chapel for public worship, while the church was rebuilding. 

It is impossible to say of what nature the hermitage build- 
ings were. The name and nature of the, abode betoken so- 
litude, we may therefore safely conclude, there were no houses 
about that spot. Indeed, this opinion is placed beyond doubt, 
by the following memorandum in a terrier of the lands belong- 
ing to the Prior and Canons of Bicester, taken in the first year 
of the reign of Henry IV. A. D. 1399. " Memorand. — Quod 
precedens terra dominica Dom. Lestraunge vocata Wowelond 
jacet a fine villae erga hermitag. et inter Harry -furlong, et 
buttat totaliter into Stration wcye." In the ancient writings 
of Mr. Horwood also, the entrance of the hermitage is said to 
be from the Br oadyates, a. proof that the site of New Buildings 
was known by those names in former times. And the circum- 
stance of the deeds of some of the oldest houses in that street, 
acknowledging their being built about two hundred years ago, 
seems to warrant the conclusion, that the street was not formed 
before that period. 

6 Magna Britannia, vol. iv, p, 474*. 



118 DISSENTERS. 

CHAPTER XIII. 

Dissenters hi Bicester .—Meeting House. — Quakers, 

It is uncertain at what time the opinions of the Puritans r 
were first known among the inhabitants of Bicester ; though 
it is probable that the number who embraced them increased 
under the ministry of Mr. Basnet, a clergyman who held the 
cure of the parish during the great rebellion. To that class 
his subsequent ejection, at the passing of the Bartholomew 
Act, was doubtless matter of regret, but it does not appear to 
have occasioned any secession from the established church. 
This event seems to have been brought about after the pass- 
ing of the toleration-act, by the preaching of the ejected mi- 
nisters Mr. John Troughton and Mr. Henry Cornish ; the 
former of whom had for several years kept an academy in the 
town, and occasionally preached in private. Having thus ob- 
tained a number of hearers, a barn was fitted up (circa 1692) 
in a yard opposite Coney-lane, and a congregation raised, 
over which Mr. Cornish was appointed minister : an office 
which he retained until his death 2 . 

As these divines are conspicuous in the annals of the neigh- 



1 The puritans objected to the whole hierarchy, which they declared was 
not of divine appointment, disallowed of the mode of cathedral worship, disap- 
proved of set forms of prayer, sponsors in baptism, and bowing at the name of 
Jesus.. They objected to the ring in marriage, and observation of saints' days, 
&c. SeeNeale's History of the Puritans, or Toulmin's Abridgement, v. i. ch. 5. 

2 The distress which followed the Bartholomew Act induced several of the 
ejected ministers to endeavour to establish schools fur the instruction of youth 
in different towns and villages ; others fled to their friends, and remained de- 
pendent on their generosity. But at the passing of the Toleration Act, most 
of them issued from their retreats and resumed their functions. The churches 
remaining closed against them, they erected meeting-houses in different places, 
their hearers they formed into societies which they denominated churches, and 
thus the first separate congregations originated. 



DISSENTERS IN BICESTER. 119 

bouring celebrated university, and their memory still cherished 
among the dissenters, a short account of their lives may not 
be uninteresting. 

John Troughton was the son of Nathaniel Troughton, a 
clothier of Coventry, and educated under Samuel Frankland, 
in the free-school. In 1655 he was entered of St. John's 
College, Oxon ; became afterwards fellow and bachelor of 
arts, and was expelled the college for non-conformity in 1662. 
When persecution rendered it necessary to preach in prohi- 
bited assemblies, he indulged no rancour against his oppo- 
nents, and sought not to make his hearers become partisans, 
but true members of the church of Christ. He inculcated love 
and charity towards all, however they might differ in theolo- 
gical points, and himself maintained an amicable correspond- 
ence with many of the conforming clergy, by whom he was 
highly respected, on account of his great learning and mode- 
ration. On the issuing of the Declaration of Toleration, 
March 15, 1671, Mr. Troughton joined Dr. Langley and 
other non-conformists, in establishing a lecture in Oxford. 
Their meetings were held in Thame Street, without the north 
gate, and among the scholars who often came to scoff, Mr. 
Troughton was deservedly admired. Wood says. " the truth 
is, though the man was blind, occasioned by the small pox^ 
ever since he was four years old, yet he was a good school 
divine and metaphysician, and had obtained much commen- 
dation by the university for his disputes. He was the author 
of several valuable works. 

" This learned and religious person died in a house of one 
of the brethren in All Saints parish Oxon, January 20, 1681, 
aged 44 years. His body was carried to Bicester, and buried 
in the parish church ; at which time Abraham James, a blind 
man, master of the free-school at Woodstock (sometime of 
Magdalen Col. Oxon) preached his funeral sermon 3 ." 

3 Wood's Athens Oxonienses, p. 686. London 1721. 



120 DISSENTERS IN BICESTER. 

Henry Cornish was the son of William Cornish of Ditchet, 
in Somersetshire : he was entered scholar of New Inn, and 
assisted the butler to enter battles in the buttery book. Wood 
stigmatizes his education as puritanical, and says that these 
principles increased under Dr. Rogers, principal of the Inn. 
While he remained in this seminary it is supposed that he took 
the degree of A.M., and became a popular preacher. In the 
convulsions which followed, he conscientiously joined the 
parliament party and left Oxford ; on their success was ap- 
pointed canon of Christ Church and B. D., and had the offer 
of D. D., which he refused. In 1646 he was appointed one 
of the visitors of the university ; and with Langley, Corbet, 
Cheynel, and others, regularly preached at St. Mary's. After 
the Restoration he was displaced by the king's commissioners, 
though he still continued to preach as a non-conformist in 
these parts till silenced by the five mile act. He then retired 
to Stanton -Harcourt, and was patronized by the pious Sir Phi- 
lip Harcourt. Here he remained preaching occasionally in 
private until the declaration of toleration issued by William III. 
when he joined Mr. Troughton, Dr. Langley, and Mr. Gilbert 
in preaching at Oxford. Ten years after the death of Mr. 
Troughton (A. D. 1690) he settled at Bicester, and assumed 
the pastoral care of a congregation of dissenters, probably 
formed by the labours of the ejected ministers. A barn situ- 
ated in a yard opposite Coney -lane was appropriated to pub- 
lic worship, which we may safely infer from the different work- 
manship observable in the wainscot of the pews in the present 
meeting-house, was fitted up with seats for the accommoda- 
tion of the people V Here this gentleman, whose piety and 
talents were formerly considered equal to the important task 
of preaching before one of the first universities in the world, 
and who constantly attracted crowded audiences, when more 

* It is not unlikely that the old seats were brought from the barn, and usee* 
in constructing the pews in the present meeting-house, 



DISSENTERS IN BICESTER. 121 

than eighty years of age preached to the inhabitants of Bi- 
cester 5 . To the honour of the dissenters Mr. John Oyliffe, 
the rector of Dutton, Bucks, asserts " they were as intelligent, 
good tempered, judicious, and loving people as a minister 
need desire. The good old gentleman was as tender of them 
as a father, and they carried it to him with the respect and 
tenderness of children; and vital religion exceedingly flourished 
among them." He died December 18, 1698, and was buried 
in Bicester chancel 6 . 

From the registers of the dissenters, which remain in the 
hands of Mr. William Rolls, it was evident that their first mi- 
nisters considered themselves authorized to marry the mem- 
bers of their own community. The very first entry running 
in the following words : " January 24, 169f, Joseph Daniel 
and Jeane Abbot were then married in the chapel, certificates 
being received that the banns were lawfully published at Stonny 
Stratford and Bisseter congregation — by me, Henry Cornish." 

It is followed by the entries of the baptism of different chil- 
dren ; the first of which appears, 

" February 18, 169f, Thomas, the son of Thomas Wilson, 
was then baptized by me, Henry Cornish." 

The last entry of this divine is dated May 17, 1698 ; but 
throughout the whole of the register no other marriage is 
noticed. 

It appears plainly from this book that Mr. John Trough- 
ton, son of the former, occasionally assisted Mr. Cornish in 
his pastoral labours, and on his death succeeded to his charge. 
During his ministry the barn was abandoned, and the present 



5 Wood says " In his old age he preaches in a barn fur profit-sake to silly 
women and other obstinate people." Oyliffe says " As to profit-sake he was 
above it, having an estate of his own." I have endeavoured to steer a middle 
course in delineating his character. 

c Wood's Fasti Oxonienses, p. 91. 



122 THE MEETING-HOUSE. 

meeting-house erected. After sustaining the important office 
forty years, he departed this life December 3, 1739, aged 73. 
As little more than the bare mention of the names of his suc- 
cessors occurs in any of the books, the list is subjoined. 

Mr. J. Troughton was succeeded by Mr. Parke, Mr. Stuck, 
Mr. Fenner, Mr. Davis, Mr. Pickersgill, Mr. Hickman, Mr. 
Whitford, Mr. O'Bennett, Mr. Howell, Mr. Miller" Mr. John 
Dennant (in whose ministry a Sunday-school was established), 
and Mr. Richard Fletcher. This gentleman was ordained 
over the congregation May 29, 1799, and still retains the pas- 
toral care. 

THE MEETING-HOUSE. 

At the erection of the meeting-house the dissenters in this 
town were numerous and opulent ; and this structure is a last- 
ing monument of their zeal and liberality. The building is 
43 feet in length and 33 in width within the walls. The light 
is admitted by four lofty windows, with semicircular heads in 
the front, and two smaller on the back. Over the entrance 
is a pediment, in the centre of which an open volume rests on 
a label, inscribed with the year of its erection. In the book 
are the following words engraved " Verbum Del rnanel in 
ceternum." 

The interior is commodiously fitted up. Originally every 
part was in strict uniformity ; but the erection of a gallery 
and some alterations have destroyed this effect ; yet there are 
few who would not still view it with pleasure. The pulpit and 
sounding board were often deservedly admired for their ele- 
gant simplicity ; but the latter has been removed some years, 
as it was supposed to occasion too great reverberation. Op- 
posite the pulpit lies the body of the Reverend John Trough - 
ton, in whose ministry the building was raised. A flat stone 
covers his grave, inscribed " Here are deposited the remains 
of the Reverend John Troughton, many years a laborious and 



THE MEETING-HOUSE, 123 

faithful minister to a congregation of Protestant Dissenters in 
this parish^ and having served this generation by the will of 
God, fell asleep December 3, 1739, .Etat. 73. Also of Sarah 
his wife, who departed this troublesome world for a happy 
immortality, January 20, 1736. y£tat. 63." 

There are several other inscriptions on the pavement, and 
two monuments affixed to the walls. One to the memory of 
the Sayers, grand children of Mr. Troughton, the ejected mi- 
nister ; and the other for Mr. W. Rolls, many years a deacon, 

Adjoining the meeting-house is a vestry, of much later 
erection, which has recently been enlarged, and is chiefly used 
for the various services in the week. 

The edifice is surrounded by a burying ground, and orna- 
mented with trees. The entrance is in the Water-lane, with 
a terrace in front, formed at the expense of the late Miss Mil- 
ler, who gave the cushion and pulpit-bible. 

This spot was purchased after the dreadful fire of 1724, 
and was previously occupied by a range of buildings extend- 
ing to the King's-arms-yard 7 . 

The ancient congregation was presbyterian, and Mr. Miller 
(I believe) was the last preacher of that class. The present is 
independent. The meeting-house is in the hands of trustees 8 . 

Their Sunday-school was established in 1794, and Mr. 
James Jones, the projector of these institutions in this parish, 
remained master till the illness which terminated in his death. 

The benefaction of Mr. Walker appropriates 11. annually 
to the support of this school, arising from the interest of 
1000/. 3 per cent, consols, liable to the deduction of inciden- 
tal expenses. 

"i See a paper now in the hands of Mr. Thomas Harris, a gentleman to whom 
1 am extremely indebted for several important communications. 

8 The deed of trust is in the hands of Mr. James Gurden, sen., one of the 
deacons and a trustee, to whose kindness I am indebted for a sight of it. 



124 THE GLUAKERS. 

THE QUAKERS. 

The Society of Friends were formerly pretty numerous in 
this town; and had a meeting-house in a yard nearly opposite 
the White Lion public-house in Sheep-street. The meeting- 
house was fitted up with seats for the accommodation of the 
congregation ; and from a large portable desk the speakers 
addressed the people. On the decline of the society the 
building was applied to other purposes, and finally converted 
into dwelling-houses. There are few of that persuasion now 
in Bicester, and whenever any of the speakers visit the town 
for the purpose of public worship, they usually obtain the 
temporary possession of the town hall. 



CHAPTER XIV. 
Fairs and Market. — Tradesmen's Tokens. 

It is generally acknowledged that fairs and markets owe 
their origin to the concourse of people who usually assembled 
to commemorate the dedication of the churches. Hence 
anciently they were held in church-yards, and on the Sabbath 
day 1 , till they were prohibited in the reign of Henry III. from 
being kept on that day or in those places. The oldest fair 
in Bicester is that usually held in Kingsend. by a charter 
granted in the first year of King Richard II. to Sir John de 
Worthe, then lord of the manor of Bigenhull, and now in the 
possession of Mr. Coker, though this is considered by Kennett 

1 A. D. 1204, Eustachius, abbot of Flay in Normandy, was one of the first" 
ecclesiastics who preached against Sunday markets; and pretended to have 
received a letter from heaven, written by the hand of God, in which he 
threatened to rain sticks and stones, and boiling water on all who frequented- 
them ! ! !— Henry's Hist, of Britain, vol. v. p. 434, apud Hoveden An. p. 457, 



FAIRS AND MARKETS. 125 

as no more than a confirmation of an ancient fair, deriving its 
origin from the dedication of the old church, which he pre- 
sumes was consecrated to St. James, as the present structure 
is to St. Edburgh. The charter also contains a grant of a 
weekly Monday market, which has long been discontinued, 
and is as follows : 

Translation.'] "Thekingtothe arch-bishops, bishops,abbots, 
priors, dukes, counts, barons, justices, sheriffs, mayors, mini- 
sters, and all bailiffs, and all other our faithful subjects. Know ye 
that we, of our special grace, have granted, and by this charter 
have confirmed for us and our heirs, to our beloved and faith- 
ful subject John de Worthe, Knt., that he and his heirs shall 
for ever have at their manor of Bigenhull, at Burcestre, one 
market every week, on the Monday ; and one fair every year 
to continue for three days, to wit, on the vigil, on the day, 
and on the morrow of St. James the Apostle. Nevertheless 
that market and fair shall not be to the hurt of the neighbour- 
ing markets and fairs. Wherefore we will and strictly com- 
mand that the said John and his heirs for ever shall have one 
market evei;y week, on the Monday \ and one fair every year 
for three days, as aforesaid. Witnesses the honourable Fathers 
S. Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate of all England ; W. 
London; A.Worcester, Chancellor; and Thomas Exeter, Trea- 
surer, our bishops ; John King of Castile and Lyons, Duke of 
Lancaster, Mortimer, March, and others. 

u Given under our hand at Westminster 20 day of Oct. 

tc By writ of privy seal." 

This fair and market seems to have decayed afterwards, so 
that when the manor came into the joint possession of 
Humphrey Duke of Buckingham and John Felmersham, the 
former obtained a renewal of the charter granted to Sir John 
de Worthe. This grant is little more than a copy of the above, 
and bears date the 20th day of July, 17 Henry VI. 1438. 



126 FAIRS AND MARKET. 

The market was shortly after discontinued by reason of a 
new charter granted to Robert Brooke for one to be held in 
Bicester Bury-end. The fair however continues to this day, 
is annually proclaimed with music on the vigil of St. James, 
and is kept in the street of King-send 2 ; many of the respect- 
able inhabitants erect booths or affix a bough over their doors, 
and are thereby privileged to sell ale and beer during the 
fair. Formerly much leather was brought for sale; and as 
anciently these marts supplied the surrounding country with 
their commodities till the annual period of their return, the 
custom has obtained and continued of discharging curriers', 
shoemakers', and other bills at this time. From these circum- 
stances, combined with the favourable season of the year at 
which it is held, this fair may be still considered one of the 
best in this country 3 . 

The statutes or fairs held on the three successive Fridays in 
October after old St. Michael in each year do not seem ground - 
ed on any charter ; but on the necessity of an appointed time 
for masters and servants meeting together for the mutual ac- 
commodation of hiring and being hired. The origin of the 
custom mav be traced from the decline of slavery ; and the 



2 By the statute of 17 Edward IV. 1477, it was provided that " whereas 
diver? fairs be hoi den and kept in this realm, some by prescription, and al- 
lowed before justices in eyre, and some by the grant of our lord the king that 
now is, and some by grants of his predecessors : — To every one of the same 
fairs there is of right pertaining a court of pye-powders to minister in the 
same due justice that every of the persons coming may have due justice, &c." 
Then follow clauses to regulate the same, and to provide remedies for every 
offence. — See Archreologia, vol. i. p. 190. 

3 Formerly the fair at Bicester was in so much repute, and attended by such 
multitudes, that it was judged necessary for the preservation of the peace in 
the night, to appoint watches both in Bicester and the surrounding villages. 
At the summer or St. James's fair three or four of the inhabitants used to take 
the office in rotation. The practice was discontinued by the falling off of the 
fair about twelve years ago. 



fairs and Market. 127 

statutes being held on three successive market days, seems to 
prove they had no other foundation than mutual convenience, 
because on those days the farmers were expected to be pre- 
sent on business. Such also was the opinion of Dr. Plot, who 
says u In the north of Oxfordshire it has always been the 
custom at set times of the year for young* people to meet and 
hire themselves as servants, which meeting at Banbury they 
call the mop ; at Bloxam the statutes, where they all sort 
themselves and carry their badges according as they are qua- 
lified ; the carter with whipcord, the shepherds with wool, 
but the maidens, as far as I could learn, stood promiscu- 
ously 4 ." These fairs are of course held in the market-place 
in Bicester. 

Letters Patent granted to Robert Brooke for holding a new 
Market in Bicester Bury-end, 19 Henry VI. 1440. 

Translation.] " The King to all, &c. health. Know ye that 
we out of consideration of the good services which our dear 
servant Robert Brooke renders, and shall render to us, of our 
special grace we grant to him, the picage, stallage, boothage, 
and tollage, together with the assize of bread and beer of our 
new market below the town of Burcester,in the county of Oxon, 
with all profits and emoluments which to us duly belong, or 
shall in any mode whatever by reason of the said market be- 
long, in respect of picage, stallage, boothage, or tollage, for 
which truly we are informed nothing has been answered to us 
in these days, to be had and held by the said Robert or his 
deputy during his proper life, from thence enjoying such fees, 
profits, and commodities, as to the same in any manner shall 
belong, rendering from thence to us the annuity of six shil- 
lings and eightpence, to be paid to our receiver of Cornwall 
for the time being, or his deputy. The same being for all sorts 

— 

4 Plot's Oxfordshire, p. 203. 



128 FAIRS AND MARKET. 

of burthens and demands ; any other statute, act, or ordina- 
tion enacted or made to the contrary notwithstanding. In 
witness &c. Given by the king at Westminster the first day 
of June. 

<e By writ of privy seal and of the date aforesaid, 

" By authority of parliament." 

From the granting of the above charter that part of the 
town which had been heretofore known by the name of Bury' 
end 5 was called Market-end; and the market thus established 
seems to have speedily become one of the chief marts in the 
county. This eminence it retained till the year 1704, when 
the small-pox raged so dreadfully in the town that the market 
was entirely deserted ; insomuch that the market-place was 
covered with grass, and bore the appearance of a meadow. It 
was long before the neighbouring villagers ventured again 
with their commodities, and trade being once diverted into 
other channels, the market never recovered its former im- 
portance. However, it is still much frequented by dealers in 
cattle, especially in the spring and autumn : but the practice 
of selling corn by sample has tended to lessen the appearance 
of business 6 . 

In 1769 Mr. Howlet having obtained the offices of high 
constable of the hundred of Ploughley and steward of the bai- 
liwick of Bicester market-end, appointed three new fairs to 
be held in the market-place. The first on the Friday in 



5 On this circumstance Kennett grounds much of his argument in favour of 
the parish church being anciently situated in Sheep-street. 

6 I have heard many of the aged inhabitants say that they have formerly 
seen the whole market-hill covered with sacks of corn, &c; the avenues 
leading to it crowded by the farmers' wives with their baskets of butter, eggs, 
and poultry ; the parts around abounding with stalls of goods of every de- 
scription ; and the streets filled with cattle. They have generally closed this 
account by exclaiming, " Ah! those were rare days ! " 



TRADESMEN'S TOKENS. 129 

Easter week, the second on the first Friday in June, and the 
other on the Friday following Christmas-day. Of these, the 
fair in Easter week is chiefly noted for the number of cattle 
usually brought for sale. The others are but little attended. 

TRADESMEN THAT ISSUED TOKENS IN THE SEVENTEENTH 
CENTURY. 

The coin of the kings since the Conquest was chiefly of 
gold and silver, though a bad policy sometimes debased it by 
alloy. The necessity of a smaller change compelled dealers 
and tradesmen to invent some token, as a medium for currency 
between themselves and their customers. Hence arose a di- 
versity of these tokens, only current in their own neighbourhood. 
Under pretence of remedying this evil, but really with a view 
of enriching a favourite, a patent was granted (July 11, 1626) 
to the Dutchess Dowager of Richmond and Sir Francis Crane, 
Knt., to coin farthing tokens. They soon made many thou- 
sand pounds worth ; and as a proof of the shameful imposi- 
tion practised on the public, it is sufficient to state that out of 
an ounce of copper, which cost one penny, they made twenty- 
pence. Their patent was shortly after annulled, and all the 
tokens were left on the subjects' hands, who sold them to the 
braziers at tenpence or a shilling the pound. 

Next came the public farthing-token offices in London. 
These gave one shilling in twenty to those who came to buy, 
and the country was soon inundated with them — gold and silver 
vanished — but when they returned to the patentees they dis- 
owned all that had not a double ring upon them, of which very 
few were found. Hereby the lower tradesmen were all ruined, 
who got their living by selling fish, vegetables, &c. 

Then they put a brass or other mark in them, but still they 
were asserted to be counterfeited. At last the great quantity 
of royal tokens, and the refusal of the patentees to exchange 
them, put an entire stop to their currency. The necessity of 
change made tradesmen resume the issuing of tokens ; and 

K 



130 MANOR OF NUN'S-FLACE. 

from their commencement in 1642 till they were cried down 
by proclamation in 1672 their numbers increased every year. 
The earliest town-pieces are those of Bristol and Oxford, 1652, 
but after 1666 they multiplied prodigiously 16 . 

The tradesmen who issued tokens in Bicester were, Ga- 
briel Rurrowes, John Borrows, Thomas Burges, Thomas Cle- 
ments, William Hudson, William Stevens, and John Warry, of 
which the following is a description. 

Burrowes, Gabriel, in (arms) — Reverse, Bisseter, Iron- 
monger, G.B. 

Borrows, John, Iron- I.B. — Reverse, -monger inBister,I.B. 

T) 

Burges, Thomas — Reverse, of Biseter, 1665, T M. 
Clements, Thomas, (arms) — Reverse, of Bissiter, Draper, 
T.C. 

Hudson, William, of Bister-— Reverse, in Oxfordshire, 1669, 

his halfpenny, W S. 

Stevens, William, of Bister, 1669 — Reverse, in Oxford- 

shire, his halfpenny, W°E. 

Warry, John, of Bister, three pipers, 1668 — Reverse, in 

Oxfordshire, his halfpenny, I M. a heart 17 . 



CHAPTER XVI. 

Manor of Nun's Place orKing's-end and Village of BigenhulL 

At a very early period the nuns of the priory of Merkyate 
(now Market-street), in the county of Bedford, obtained the 
grant of a mansion and estate in Bicester, which were after- 

16 Snelling on Coins, p. 17. ]763. 

*" MS. Catalogue of Town-pieces and Tokens in the 17th Century. Quarto 



MANOR OF NUN'S-PLACE. 131 

wards known by the appellation of the Manbr of Nonnes 
Place, though at present neither the name of the donor nor 
the time of the donation is known. The earliest mention 
of this estate is found in an indenture made in the reign of 
King John (A. D. 1212) between the prioress and nuns of 
Merkyate, and Hervey, prior of Burncestre, for the exchange 
of two ridges of the nuns' land in Hodesham for one acre 
nearer to their land in Nyhenaker, and half an acre of meadow 
nigh to the meadow called Gilbert sham. A full statement of 
the lands constituting this estate may be found in the folios of 
lands, rents, and services taken in 1325 ; and by some con- 
sidered as affording the best detail of the services of villainage 
extant : the original document is in the hands of Mr. Coker, 
the present lord of the manor. The services of one of their 
tenants, Robert, son of Nicholas Germayn, are stated at large 
in the list of tenures, &c, and a close translation of the whole 
court-roll is given in the Appendix. In the reigirof Edward 
IV. the land was assessed among the temporalities of the pri- 
oress and nuns of Merkyate, and computed at the yearly 
value of fifty-six shillings and ten- pence, of which the tenths 
were rated at five shillings and eight-pence. A few years pre- 
vious to the dissolution of the smaller monasteries (22 Henry 
VIII. A. D. 1530) a lease of it was granted by the prioress 
and nuns to John Gryffyth, a servant of the cardinal's (Wolsey), 
for twenty-one years, probably with a view to preserve the es- 
tate amid the impending storm which the religious saw ready 
to burst upon them r . Soon after the Dissolution, the rever- 

1 The lease is given at length in the Appendix. 

At the valuation of the estates belonging to the priory of Merkyate, the ac- 
count of this estate was entered as follows : 

Dom' sive Monast' in s'taTrini te de Bosco juxt' Markeyate D'na Joh'a Zouch 
Priorissa ir/m. 
Com. Oxon. Burcestre. Valet per Anmf in FirmT Man~is ib'mD'ni 

Joh'i Gryffeth per Indentur' ostens' , vij xiij iiij 

Records in the. Augmentation Office. 

k2 



132 MANOR OF NUN'S-PLACE, 

sion in fee of this manor was granted by King Henry VIII. to 
John Denton, Esq. of Blackthorn, in the parish of Ambrosden, 
and in the year 1582 it was sold by him to Mr. John Coker 2 . 

The family of the Cokers derive their origin from Coker, 
a town in Somersetshire ; but in the reign of Henry IV. John 
Coker, a member of that family, having married an heiress of 
the name of Veale, became possessed of a very considerable 
estate at Mapouder, in Dorsetshire, where he settled. John 
Coker, a descendant and younger son, who was born at Ma- 
pouder in the reign of Henry VII I. married a wife at Pollicot 
in Oxfordshire, and resided there a short time j but afterwards 
purchasing the manor of Nun's Place, he adopted the mansion 
for the residence of himself and his posterity, which^ together 
with the estate, still remains in their possession. 

The manor-house seems to have had its name changed to 
Burchester Hall during the time it was the residence of his 
son Cadwallader Coker 5 , and to have been rebuilt by Mr. 
John Coker, his grandson, in 1682 4 . 

To the last-mentioned gentleman the curious must acknow- 
ledge themselves under considerable obligations. From his 
papers Kennett derived some of the most valuable informa- 
tion in his Parochial Antiquities, and by his industry the 



2 Ex orig. penes Johan. Coker, armig. The reversion of this manor, to- 
gether with the estate of Strippwike, at Ambrosden, were granted to Denton 
for fifty-seven pounds twelve shillings ! 

Jones's Index to the Public Records contains the following entry, " De 
Justiniano Champney et uxore occasionatis ad ostendendum quo titulo te- 
nent Manerium de Burcester vocatum Nonnes Place in Com. Oxoniae." Pas- 
chae Recorda 17 Elizabeth. Rot. 64. This seems to intimate that this family 
held the manor, and it might be they resided in the mansion ; perhaps they 
held it on lease from Denton. 

s "De Cadwallader Coker occasionato ad ostendendum quo titulo -tenet 
manerium de Burcester Hall in Com. Oxon." Michael. Recorda, 11 Jac. I. 
Rot. 295. 

* Set a plate of the mansion in Kennett's Par. Ant, 



MANOR OF NUNVPLACE. 133 

neglected well of St. Edburg was restored, after the lapse of 
more than a century, during which its virtues had been almost 
consigned to oblivion. — He and his descendants lie buried in 
Bicester church, in a vault beneath the family pew. — The last 
possessor, the Reverend Thomas Coker, is said to have en- 
tailed the manor and estates on the male branches of his fa- 
mily. 

The present proprietor, John Coker, Esq., succeeded to the 
estate on the death of his uncle : by him the family mansion 
has been partly rebuilt, though many of the additional apart- 
ments remain unfinished. The front presents a handsome 
appearance, and by the inclosure of the green he has obtained 
a considerable pleasure-ground around it. To the exertions 
of this gentleman great praise is due for putting an end to the 
inhuman practice of bull-baiting, which formerly was a pre- 
valent amusement in Bicester. The writer when a boy saw 
with pleasure his determined and laudable conduct in rescu- 
ing a poor animal destined to become the victim of this cruel 
sport from a savage mob, and never since that time has the 
practice been attempted to be revived. The insults he re- 
ceived on the occasion were shameful, but he had the reward 
of approving conscience and the benedictions of the humane. 
In every plan for bettering the condition of the poor or im- 
proving the town, Mr. Coker has been most ready to come 
forward with liberality, and it is much to be regretted that 
Bicester is not his constant residence. 

Mr. Coker married in 1792 the Honourable Charlotte Mar- 
sham, the youngest daughter of the Right Honourable Robert 
Lord Romney, of the Moat, near Maidstone, Kent. His lady 
died in January 1794, leaving an only child, a daughter. 

In the year 1798, when these kingdoms were threatened 
with invasion by the atrocious ruler of France, a general spirit 
of loyalty and patriotism manifested itself throughout all ranks 
and descriptions of the people. The university of Oxford was 



134 VILLAGE OF BIGENHULL. 

not backward in the laudable and spirited exertions displayed 
on this occasion. A regiment consisting of five hundred ma- 
triculated members of the university was raised, clothed, and 
armed at their own expense. Of this regiment Mr. Coker 
was unanimously appointed the colonel. In the subsequent 
year when the colonel applied to His Royal Highness the 
Commander in Chief to have his regiment reviewed by some 
general, His Royal Highness was graciously pleased to say 
that he would review it himself. Accordingly, on the 18th of 
June, in the year 1799, the regiment was reviewed by His 
Royal Highness in Port-meadow, when the most excellent and 
highly disciplined steadiness and military skill displayed by 
the corps drew from the commander in chief the strongest ex- 
pressions of commendation and praise. 

Upon the death of Sir Christopher Willoughby in 1809, 
Mr. Coker was unanimously appointed the chairman of the 
quarter sessions of the county of Oxford. 

1814. At a numerous and respectable meeting of the no- 
bility, gentry, clergy, and freeholders of the county of Oxon, 
convened by the high sheriff to consider of the propriety of 
addressing the Prince Regent on the occasion of his visit to the 
county in company with the Emperor of Russia and King of 
Prussia, Mr. Coker, after an eloquent and impressive speech, 
moved an address, which was received with unbounded applause 
and carried unanimously 5 . On the following Wednesday it 
was presented to His Royal Highness at Christ Church by the 
Earls of Abingdon and Harcourt, the Bishop of Oxford, J. 
Fane, Esq., and numbers of the most respectable gentlemen 
of the county. 

VILLAGE OF BIGENHULL. 

The village of BiGENHULLseems to have formerly stood south 

5 Times of June 22, 1314. 



VILLAGE OF BIGENHULL. 135 

of Berencestre 6 , and on the site of KingVend. Probably it 
only consisted of a few scattered houses, as all accounts re- 
present it as having been very small. Without doubt some of 
the inhabitants attended at the lord's chapel, but it is most 
likely that the greater part of them took their places in the 
parish church. There was a tradition in the time of Kennett 
that it was a separate and distinct parish from Bicester Bury- 
end, on which point he remarks, " To support the tradition 
of two parishes, I find no better authority than the ruins of a 
chappel near Bignell-Farm and of a church in Burcester Market- 
end, near the Hermitage, at the north end of Sheep-street, 
long since also demolished. I rather believe that Bigenhull was 
only a distinct manor, like Wretchwic, within the precincts of 
Burcester, having a chapel subordinate to the mother church, 
and granted as a privilege to the lord of the manor." 

The name -of King's-end, or Kyng-end, as descriptive of 
this township, appears very early. In a terrier of the lands 
of Bicester priory, taken in the last year of Richard II. 
A. D. 1399, the field attached is distinctly called the field of 
BurncesterKvng-end, and in the reign of Henry VI. it is evi- 
dent that the village itself was commonly known by that name \ 
for in the bursar's account of receipts and expenses of the priory 
of Bicester for the year 1425, one of the items is, Ci And 
four pounds four shillings and four-pence received for the 
rent of fourteen tenements in Burcestre Bury-end and Kyng- 
end, as paid by the rent-roll," It is however clear, from the 



6 On examining the foundations v.hieh still remain in Mr, Coker's close, 
one of the most intelligent inhabitants of Bicester remarked that they seemed 
to intimate that the old town of Berencestre stood on bodi sides of a road,, which 
led, in nearly a straight line, from the Akeman-sueet, near Graven-hill, into 
the Bueknell road, above the stone-pits. — And that the fosse and vallum, which 
for a short distance are parallel with the bftxtk, and van in the direction of 
those in the H< rse-close, seem to have joined them, and formed a part of the 
ancient fortifications. 



136 VILLAGE OF BIGENHULL. 

care of Sir John de Worth, lord of Bigenhull, to obtain the 
grant of a fair and weekly market for his manor, and the spot 
on which it was held, that great part of this township was ac- 
counted a part of the ancient manor of Bigenhull, even down 
to the middle of the following century; when Humphrey 
Duke of Buckingham obtained letters-patent to confirm the 
weekly market and St. James's fair. It is not improbable that 
the honours of Bigenhull were finally cropt by the estate fall- 
ing into the hands of the lords of Nunnes Place, who, when 
they condescended to part with it, stripped it of all its ancient 
splendour, and simply disposed of the farm. 



It is said that the manors of King's -end, Bigenhull, and the 
neighbouring village of Kirklington, are part of the domains 
of the Dutchy of Lancaster, and that in consequence the in- 
habitants are privileged to attend markets and fairs without 
paying toll, by a charter granted at some distant period \ I 
have not been able to discover any such charter ; but the cir- 
cumstance of their claim of exemption being allowed in the 
market and fairs of Bicester Market-end, is a proof that the 
bailiff considers it well founded. 

It is customary for the inhabitants of this parish or town- 
ship to attend the court leet held under the steward of the 

7 The late Mr. Egerton, steward to the former and present lord of the manor, 
informed meihat one day a stranger exposed his goods for sale in King's-end fair, 
but refused to pay the toll, asserting that he was an inhabitant of the domains 
of the Dutchy of Lancaster, and producing a paper, which he affirmed was a 
copy of a charter, granting to all the inhabitants of those domains freedom from 
toll in all markets and fairs throughout England. Mr. Egerton afterwards 
much regretted that he did not examine the paper ; yet he rebutted the claims 
of the stranger, by remarking that the exemption was limited to places without 
the domains of the Dutchy, and consequently did not apply to King's-end ; 
which the stranger admitted. 

If there ever was any connection between the manors of Kirklington, Bi- 
genhull, &Ct it must have been anterior to the grant of the manor of Nun?*- 



MANOR OF BIGENHULL. 137 

manor of Kirklington ; but the jury are always chosen from 
among the inhabitants of KingVend^ if there are a sufficient 
number in attendance, and are privileged to sit in a separate 
room. To this court the inhabitants of King's-end usually 
pay thirteen shillings and four- pence annually ; twenty- pence 
of which is levied on the lord of the manor ; twenty-pence on 
Bignel farm ; and four-pence on each cottage. To ensure a 
full attendance, the court is accustomed to levy a fine of one 
penny on every householder absent. 



CHAPTER XVII. 

Manor of BigenhulL 

This manor deserves particular notice, as it anciently in- 
cluded the chief part of what is now called King's-end. It is 
not however recognised as a manor in Doomsday-book, for in 
that record two only are noticed, and these defined by Kennett 
to be Bicester and Wretchwick; a proof that it was then in- 
cluded in the manor of Burchester. At what time Bigenhull 
was separated is unknown, nor has any account of the tenure 
by which it was held reached us. The earliest mention is in 
a grant to Bicester priory, A. D. 1212, in the fourteenth year 

place to the priory of Merkyate, and then only as members of the same fee. 
According to Plot, the manor of Kirklington originally belonged to the kings 
of England, from whom it proceeded to John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, 
This information Plot professes to derive from an old charter in the possession 
of Sir T. Chamberleyne, lord of the town. But Dugdale traces the property 
from John de Hemetz, constable of Normandy, in the reign of King John, 
through the Bassets to Thomas of Woodstock, who died possessed of the manor, 
20 Richard If. Was Plot's account correct, and could the manor of Nun's- 
place be proved to have once belonged to the same fee, it would be easy to 
trace the name of King's-end, and the title of the township to the afore- 
mentioned privileges. 



138 MANOR OF BIGENHULL. 

of King John, when James Le Bret, lord of Bigenhull 5 and 
Amable his wife, are noticed as generous benefactors to that 
infant institution '. In the same century it passed into the 
family of the Langleys ; and Walter, Alice, and John de Lang- 
ley are successively mentioned as owners of the lordship. The 
folios remaining give an accurate account of the rents and ser- 
vices as they existed in the time of the latter, A. D. 1 325, 1 9 Ed- 
ward II. Thirteen years after (1360) Sir Richard le Vache of 
Bigenhull, a descendant of the LeVaches mentioned in the folios, 
together with Sir Miles Stapleton of Middleton, were among 
the commissioners in the great treaty of peace concluded with 
Edward III., by which that monarch received many provinces 
without homage. It is not quite so clear that he was lord of 
the manor, indeed the probability is against it. How long the 
family of De Wort he had obtained possession before John de 
Worthe obtained the charter for the market and fair is not 
known, nor yet into whose hands it passed before it came into 
the joint possession of Humphry, Earl of Stafford, afterward 
Duke of Buckingham, and John Felmersham, the former of 
whom obtained Letters Patent to confirm the weekly market. 
No further accounts have reached us of Felmersham; but the 
whole life of Buckingham seems devoted to the cause of Hen- 
ry VI. In the battle of St. Aiban's he lost his eldest son 
(1455), and by the sacrifice of his own life in the fields of Nor- 
thampton proved his enmity to the house of York. Bigen- 
hull came afterwards into the possession of John Stokeys, Esq. 
and was sold by him to William Staveley, a benefactor to 
the priory, in whose family it remained for several genera- 
tions. The body of this gentleman lies buried in the chan- 
cel of Bicester parish church, and a brass plate, the oldest 
monument therein, still perpetuates his memory. His 
eldest son George is distinguished by his donation to Uni- 



Kennett, p. 176, 



MANOR OF BIGENHULL. 1S9 

versity College, Oxford. He gave fifty pounds to purchase 
land of the yearly value of fifty shillings, of which he pro- 
vided that two shillings and eight-pence should he paid to one 
of the fellows in holy orders to say mass as often as he pleased 
at the south altar of the chapel,forthe souls of George Staveley, 
Isahel his wife,John Staveley, and their friends. Of the remainder 
three shillings and four-pence should be allowed on the anni- 
versary of his death to the master and fellows to increase their 
commons; two-pence to the manciple; two-pence to the head 
cook ; four-pence to the bible-clerk ; and the overplus to be 
divided on the same day between the masters and the scholars. 
George Staveley died M Henry VIII. A. D. 1523 K 

How long the manor of Bigenhull remained in the hands 
of the descendants of the Staveleys I have not been able to 
ascertain. The names of his son John and his grandson 
Thomas occur, the latter of whom was in possession at the 
heralds' visitation in Oxfordshire in 1574 3 . 

The lordship of Bigenhull and the estates connected with 
the ancient demesne, had been alienated some time before Ken- 
nett published the Parochial Antiquities (A.D. 1695), for he 
says the i£ name alone of Bigenhull or Bignell remains in a 
farm-house, wnich tradition speaks of as the seat of the lord 
of the manor, now belonging to the daughters and coheirs of 
Mr. Samuel Lee, and hath been some time in the occupation 
of John WillsonV 

The honours formerly annexed to this estate led Sir Robert 
Dashwood, early in the last century, to commence a law suit 
with Mr. Coker for the manor &c. of King's-end ; which was 
finally adjudged to the latter, in whose possession all the ori- 



2 Kennett, p. 68 1 . 

3 Haileian MS. No. 1095. Brit. Mus. 

4 Mr. Lee is supposed to have made the largest collection of Alchester coins 
ever known. 



140 DONATIONS TO THE PARISH. 

ginal documents relative to this manor and township then 
were, and with whose descendants they still remain. 

Passing through several hands, it was at last purchased by 
John Coker, Esq., who sold it to Mr. Forster. This gentle- 
man has lately repaired or rebuilt the mansion : part of the 
walls of the chapel are standing, but it has been lately con- 
verted into an out- house. There was a small room or vestry 
attached, apparently for the use of the priest, or as a depo- 
sitory for the vestments and utensils connected with the cele- 
bration of the ancient worship 5 . From the architecture of 
the windows it is not improbable that the chapel may have 
been erected in the fourteenth century. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

Donations to the Parish. 

Town Stock. At an early period lands and tenements in 
the counties of Berks, Oxon, Northampton, &c. were left by 
some now unknown benefactor, " For the relief of decayed 
tradesmen " (the words of the donor) in Burcester. 

In the parish-archives, deposited over the church-porch, 
are grants of leases of these estates as early as the reign of 
Henry VII. ; and probably, were the whole of the records care- 
fully examined, the original deed of gift might be found. 

Among the loose papers in the Wallingford chest (the only 
one I examined) is the following memorandum of the re- 
ceipts in the fifteenth year of Elizabeth (A. D. 1572). 



5 Some have concluded that this room was designed for the habitation of th.e 
priest, from its containing a fire-place. 



DONATIONS TO THE PARISH. 141 

5. d. 

For tenements in Souldern, per annum . _ 10 

One ditto in Woodstock 14 

Another ditto in Woodstock - _ 

Stratton Audley, for arable land 4 

This chest contains most of the bills of the parish expenses 
during the reign of Elizabeth ; yet little use can be made of 
them, as frequently those containing the most desirable infor- 
mation are without dates ; among these is one wherein the 
name and value of the lands belonging to the poor are speci- 
fied, the sum total of which is twenty-six pounds and three- 
pence three farthings. 

A. D. 159S. On the 6th of April, in the forty-first year of 
Queen Elizabeth, decretal orders were issued by Sir William 
Spencer, Knt., John Welsborn, Francis Ewer, George Cali- 
ford, and William Frere, Esquires, as commissioners appointed 
to direct the application of this charity, of which the follow- 
ing is the substance. 

Every aged poor and impotent inhabitant relieved by the 
feoffees shall be relieved by the knowledge of the vicar, church- 
wardens, and four of the inhabitants rated highest in the sub- 
sidy books. 

When all these are relieved, the profits remaining unbe- 
stowed are to be applied to the marriage of poor maidens 
born in and then inhabiting the parish of Bicester ; and if 
there are no such maidens to be married, then with the like 
assent, to the mending of the highways, which no private per- 
son is bound to repair by tenure, prescription, composition, or 
otherwise. 

No lease of any of the lands, tenements, &c. y to be let fox 
more than ten years from the date of the agreement. 

No land shall be let for less than its yearly value, nor any 
fine taken, nor any poor person suffered to live on the estate. 



142 DONATIONS TO THE PARISH. 

If any disbursements are made contrary to these orders, the 
party making them to incur the loss. 

The accounts to be audited in Whitsun week before the 
vicar, churchwardens, overseers, and other parishioners, and 
what money remains in hand to be put in the chest for the 
use of the poor. 

It is decreed that in the next conveyance of the land, tene- 
ments, &c, to any persons and their heirs, which shall be made 
within three weeks after there shall be but four feoffees alive, 
these orders shall be rehearsed and acknowledged, to be for 
ever hereafter acknowledged and observed, and to be made by 
the consent of the feoffees of the lands and tenements ; and 
that all former estates made heretofore by Wykins and Moore 
were made to the uses hereinbefore expressed. If any of the 
parties having interest in the lands shall not observe these 
orders, then the conveyance to their heirs and assigns to be 
void. u To avoid all disputes, ten shillings only are allowed 
to be spent at the yearly meeting about the account." Should 
any of them, the said vicar or churchwardens or overseers, 
disagree from the rest of them for any thing done in the pre- 
mises, such dissenters shall give a reason for their disagree- 
ment (for it shall not be wilful) ; and if their reason be 
not allowed by the major part of the feoffees, all things shall 
be proceeded in according to these articles. Lastly, it is 
thought fit, notwithstanding any thing to the contrary, that a 
lease may be made of any dwelling-house to which no land is 
attached for twenty-one years, if the house be ruinous, and the 
lessee is bound by this lease to rebuild it. 

Agreeable to the above decree, the mode of appointing 
feoffees is by indenture of bargain and sale of the enfeoffed 
lands, cottages, &c. by the surviving trustees, for five shillings 
for one year, to have and to hold by the rent of one pepper- 
corn if demanded^ for the use and purposes mentioned in the 
above decree, copied into a release. 



DONATIONS TO THE PARISH. 143 

The release is also by indenture, in which the former feof- 
fees for ever quit claim to the above, and convey them to the 
persons specified, their heirs and assigns, according to the de- 
cretal orders which are copied into it. 

The present feoffees are Sir G. P. O. Turner, Sir Henry W. 
Dashwood, John Coker, Esq. , George Osmond, Richard Smith, 
Thomas Davis, John Blake Kirby, and Thomas Tubb. The 
enfeoffed lands, tenements, &c. are 

£. s. a. 

At Lurgessall, in Bucks, one small public-house 
and premises adjacent, and twenty-eight acres 
of pasture land, producing per annum 120 

Souldern, in Oxon, two cottages, one small close, 
and two closes of pasture of about twenty- 
eight acres, producing together 70 

Land in Potter's-pury, Cosgrove, and Yardley, 

Northamptonshire 2 4 

Bicester Market- end, a barn, yard, and two 
closes of arable land, of about twenty-eight 
acres 25 

Two cottages in the same near the church 2 

Workhouse in the same, let to the parish 16 

Public funds 150/. in 3 per cents 4 10 

Total per annum ^261 10 



It is evident the above decree admitted other objects to 
partake of the benefits of this charity besides decayed trades- 
men; yet it is worth inquiry whether it might not be advis- 
able to limit the application to the relief of those inhabitants 
for whom the donation was intended. 

1749. At the audit holden May 18th it was ordered and 
agreed by those whose names are under-written, that if any 
poor persons who received any weekly payments out of the 



144 DONATIONS TO THE PARISH. 

trust estate should receive collections from the parish, such 
weekly payments out of the trust estate should cease from the 
time of their becoming chargeable to the parish aforesaid. 
Signed John Coker, John Wilson, Mor. Stokes, John Eger- 
ton, &c. 

To guard against this donation being in any ways applica- 
ble to the reduction of the poor's-rates, and becoming wrested 
to parochial purposes, the following oath is directed to be 
taken by one of the feoffees : 

" A. B., residing in Bicester, in the county of Oxford, 
maketh oath and sayeth that the above account, signed by 
him, is a just and true account of the rents and profits of the 
messuages, lands, and tenements therein declared, and that 
the rents and profits arising from the same are wholly ap- 
plied in the manner stated in the above account; viz. given 
to the poor of the parish of Bicester, in the county of Oxford, 
aforesaid, but not applicable to the reduction of the poor's- 
rates. 

66 And this deponent further declares that from his office of 
feoffee to the said charity, he hath a perfect knowledge of the 
regulation of the said charity, and of the due application of 
the rents and profits stated in the above account. Sworn, 

&c. &c." 

These accounts are audited every Thursday in Whitsun- 

week l * 

1685. In the first year of James II. Sir William Glynn, 
Bart., of Ambrosden, patron of the church, gave for the use 
of such as are of the church of England, and belonging to the 
parish of Bicester, Two large flaggons of massy silver ; one 
silver salver ; one silver chalice and cover ; a large carpet of 
purple velvet, with gold and silver fringe, for the communion 

1 Original record?, book?, &c, belonging to the feoffees. 



DONATIONS TO THE PARISH. 145 

table; a purple velvet cushion with gold and silk tassels; and 
a purple velvet cloth with gold and silk fringe, for the orna- 
ment of the pulpit. 

There are several donations payable annually from diffe- 
rent estates in the Market-end ; but as every writing relative 
thereto is in the hands of the proprietors only, it is impossi- 
ble to give any accurate account of the giver or even amount 
of the benefaction, since it is too often the disposition as well 
as the interest of the owner of the property not to let the par- 
ticulars transpire. Hence these donations in a few years may 
be expected to be forgotten. The following is all I can col- 
lect respecting them. 

Out of a leasehold estate in Bicester Market-end, held for 
the remainder of ten thousand years, of the lease granted to 
Wykins and Clements, 39 Eliz., consisting of Gillet's Slade ; 
Short furlong ground ; Long furlong ground ; Freebord next 
to Launton-moor ; a stone- built messuage next to Coney- 
lane, with farm-yard adjoining; a freehold and leasehold 
pasture called the Dairy ground ; St. Peter's meadow and the 
home closes ; is an annual payment to be made of one pound 
ten shillings for bread to be given to the poor. By an arrange- 
ment at a recent sale of these estates (May 21, 1813) the 
whole sum was agreed to be charged on the land, and accord- 
ingly is paid by the purchaser, Mr. John Proctor. 

Mrs. Mary Carlton, by indenture bearing date November 
28, 1717? appointed forty-two shillings and sixpence, the rent 
of some land in Brill, to be paid into the hands of trustees on 
or before the 14th of February every year; to be by them ex- 
pended in the following manner : 

Twenty shillings to be given to the minister for the time 
being to preach a sermon in the afternoon of the second day 
in March in memory of her daughter Sarah, wife of Dr. Ken- 
nett, who died March 2, 1693. The clerk to give notice on 
the preceding Sundav. 



146 DONATIONS TO THE PARISH. 

Two shillings and sixpence to be given the clerk for ring- 
ing out the great bell before the sermon, and cleaning the 
monuments of Mrs. Kennett and her father, Mr. Robert 
Carver. 

And forty sixpenny loaves of good wheaten bread to be dis- 
tributed after the sermon among forty of the poorest widows, 
for the time being, inhabiting Bicester; or, if there are not so 
many, such as the minister and churchwardens shall appoint, 
so that such persons shall have the benefit during their lives. 

To enable the churchwardens to procure this bread, the in- 
denture directs the trustees of the charity to pay the money 
into their hands two days before the sermon is preached ; and 
for the security of the whole sum being paid unto the trustees 
by the day appointed, they are directed in case of any neglect 
"" to take the close and keep possession thereof until the same 
are satisfied." 

The trustees are also directed to repair both the monu- 
ments as they may decay, and to deduct the expense out of the 
several sums in proportion to their amount. 

To perpetuate this charity and service, the indenture directs 
that if the samp should be neglected by the parish of Bicester, 
the donation should go to the minister and parish of Brill, 
subject to the same application, except cleaning the monu- 
ments 5 and in case of their not observing the conditions of 
the grant, it is further appropriated to the parish of Ambros- 
den, who are directed to apply it to the same purposes. 

The above sum of forty-two shillings and sixpence issues out 
of a close containing three acres of pasture land, in the parish 
of Brill, conveyed to John Wilson and his heirs and assigns for 
fifty pounds. The lease bears date 17 and 18 days of Sep- 
tember, 1 Ann. and granted by Mary Carver of Wallingford 2 . 

1734. Sir Thomas Grantham gave fifty pounds to John 

* This indenture is in the possession of the churchwardens. 



DONATIONS TO THE PARISH. 1 47 

Burrows, gent., the interest of which he directed should be 
distributed yearly, at Christmas, among such poor widows as 
the churchwardens and overseers appoint. 

A bond was accordingly given by John Burrows of Bicester 
to Thomas Airson the vicar for the same, but the interest only 
paid up to 1750. 

" Richard Burrows gave by will ten pounds per annum 
for apprenticing poor children. 

ct Mr. John Hart gave also by will ten pounds per annum 
for the same purpose of apprenticing children. — Both lost. 

(e In 1738 one Bowell was charged five pounds per annum 
on some lands for the purpose of apprenticing some poor chil- 
dren of Wendlebury, Bicester, and Chesterton alternately *." 

1799. The Reverend Thomas Coker left by will the sum 
of seventy pounds, to be given to the poor of this parish, which 
was accordingly given in bread at the town hall by the minis- 
ter, churchwardens, and overseers, to two hundred and two 
families. 

1811. William Walker, Esq., of Stamford-hill, Middle- 
sex, in pursuance of the intention of his deceased father John 
Walker, Esq., of Hackney, in the above county, vested the 
sum of one thousand pounds three per cent, consolidated an- 
nuities, on the feoffees for the poor's lands, in trust, that the 
interest arising therefrom (deducting expenses connected 
therewith) might be perpetually applied to the following pur- 
poses. 

Sixteen pounds per annum to be given to the charity-school 
in Bicester toward clothing and educating poor children be- 
longing to or residing in this parish. 



s Letter of Thomas, Bishop of Oxford, to Mr. Airson, vicar of Bicester, 
August 28, 1738. See parish papers. — The whole of these papers, including 
the above indenture, were found by Mr. Cook in a chest in London, and given 
to Mr. Smith, the present vicar. 

L 2 



148 LORDS OF THE MANORS 

Seven pounds per annum to be applied towards the sup- 
port of the Sunday-school belonging to the sameparish-churchj 
and the remaining seven pounds per annum to be given to the 
Sunday-school supported by the Dissenters at the meeting- 
house in Water-lane. 

The indenture directs that, if either of the latter schools 
should be discontinued, the sum applied towards its support 
shall be given to the charity-school in addition to the former 
donation. 

The above grant was intended to have been settled upon 
the schools by Mr. John Walker, who was a constant sub- 
scriber to them for many years \ but by some means omitted 
in his last will and testament. This intention being well known 
to his son, Mr. W T illiam Walker, he with a liberality seldom 
witnessed piously determined to carry the design into effect. 



CHAPTER XIX. 

Biographical Sketch of the Lords of the Manors of Bicester 
and fVretchwic. — Bailiwick of Bicester, 

In the days of Edward the Confessor these villages belonged 
to Wigod, a powerful and noble thane, who, from the place 
of his usual residence, was known by the name of Wigod de 
Wallingford. The earliest records introduce him to our notice 
as a partisan of the Normans, and state that he met the vic- 
torious duke on his return from the battle of Hastings, in- 
vited him and his army into his castle of Wallingford, and 
entertained them for several days. That during the entertain- 
ment he had the satisfaction of seeing the nobles of the ad- 
verse party submit themselves to William, and tender him the 



OF BICESTER AND WRETCHWIC. 149 

crown and government; and that the pleasures of the feast 
were finally closed by the marriage of his daughter Aldith to 
Robert de Oilly, or de Oilgi, one of the most eminent of the 
Norman chieftains, and the particular friend of the king. 

The death of Wigod happened shortly after the marriage of 
his daughter; and by the accession of his vast estates, and the 
personal favour of the monarch, Robert de Oilly, according 
to the best historians, became the most powerful man of his 
time 1 . At the command of his sovereign he repaired or 
rebuilt the castles of Oxford and Wallingford (A. D. 107 1) 5 
and actuated by piety he extended similar favours to many 
churches within and without the walls of Oxford. His muni- 
ficence built the great bridge, and his charity relieved the wants 
of many of the poor. But the monks embellish his history in 
the following manner : — They say that Robert being always 
supported by the king's favour grew rich, and injured many 
churches, and particularly robbed the church of Abingdon of 
a meadow near Oxford. That the prayers of the monks pro- 
cured him a fit of sickness, and the horrors of a dream so 
frightened him that he hastened to the abbot, and before the 
high altar expiated his sacrilege by the donation of ten pounds 
per annum in Tadmarton, and large contributions towards 

1 Soon afer the coronation of William he undertook a tour to the north 
of England ; but finding on his approach to Oxford that the garrison resisted 
hU authority and insulted his person, he stormed the city, and, having ob- 
tained possession, gave the greatest part of it to Robert de Oilly, who at the 
survey is reported to have, within and without the walls, fort}'- two inhabited 
houses and eight lying waste. 

" In the late expedition Robert de Oilly bn ught over with him Roger de 
Ivery, a fellow adventurer and sworn brother, for they had mutually engaged 
by oath to be sharers in the same fortune, which was a sociable practice of 
that age. According to this compact, when the said Robert de Oiljy had two 
honours given him beside the estate which came by his wife, he freely gave 
one of them (that afterwards called St. Waleries, of which Eeckley was the 
capital seat, and within which Ambrosden was included,) to this Roger de 
Jyery." Kenn. p. 56. 



150 LORDS OF THE MANORS 

rebuilding St. Mary's Church. He died in September 1090% 
4 William Rufus. 

Milo Crispin married the daughter of Robert*, and on his 
death succeeded to the estates of Wallingford, Bicester, 
Wretchwic, &c. ; but the honours of D'Oilly, with Oxford 
Castle, &c. passed to his brother Nigel. Milo died in 1107* 
and six years after his widow married again. 

Brien Fitz Count, her second husband, was the natural son 
of Alan Fergunt, earl of Brittany and Richmond, who came 
over with the conqueror, by Lucia, daughter of Diu de Bala- 
don, lord of Overwent in Wales. He is chiefly remarkable for 
his attachment to the Empress Maud, to whose fortunes he 
adhered under the most trying circumstances. To enumerate 
his various services would be to give the whole history of 
the conflict. His life and fortune he devoted to her interest ; 
armed his vassals in her cause ; exposed his castles to the hor- 
rors of a siege, and his estates to forfeiture ; yet after all 
had the pleasure of seeing the cause he had espoused finally 
triumph. His domestic peace was embittered, however, by 
the recollection that both his sons were lepers, and unable to 
succeed him in these military enterprises. Placing them, 
therefore, in the priory of Abergavenny, and assigning lands 
for their support ; in conformity with the superstition of the 
age he took the cross and departed for Jerusalem. Tired of 
the world his lady also retired to a convent, and the honour of 



* He left no heirs male: hence Nigel succeeded to the honours of D'Oilly, the 
capital seat of which was Hooknorton- — Kennett, p. 72. 

3 Milo Crispin married between the survey and 1084. He had large posses- 
sions at that period, and generally resided at the castle of Wallingford after 
his marriage. In his sickness he gave to Fabricus and the monks of Abing- 
don an inn at Cblbrook, with half a hyde of land, and sent Gilbert Pipart, his 
steward, and Warin his priest, to deliver possession upon the altar of Abing- 
don. To the abbey of Bee in Normandy he gave all the tithes of the honour 
of Wallingford and the manor of Swanscomb. — Dugdale's Baronage, 



I 



OF BICESTER AND WRETCHWIC. 151 

Wallingford thus reverting into the hands of the king, was 
for some time retained as a part of the possessions of the 
crown. 

It seems that during the time of Milo Crispin seven 
knights' fees 4 of the honour of Wallingford were granted to 
Gilbert Basset, a younger son of Ralph Basset, chief justice 
of England, and amongst these fees are the villages of Bices- 
ter, Wretchwic, and Stratton parti culary specified (A.D. 1 107). 
In conformity to the principles of the feudal system Gilbert 
Basset zealously adhered to his superior lord, Brien Fitz 
Count, and was present in most of the encounters. Tinc- 
tured also with superstition he was a benefactor to the reli- 
gious ; gave lands and tenements at Charing to the Knights 
Templars, and the tithes of hay and corn in Bicester and 
Stratton to the monks of Eynsham. He died 8 Henry I. 
A.D. 1162. 

In the 10th of Henry II. Thomas, his son and successor, was 
sheriff of Oxon, and soon after appointed one of the itinerant 
justices. Special services in war procured him the grant of 
the lordship of Hedington, the hundred of Bolendon, and 
the hundred without the north gate of Oxford : and this 
branch of the family were henceforward styled " The Bassets 
of Hedendon." By his wife Alice de Dunstanville he left 
one daughter and three sons, Gilbert, Thomas, and Alan. 
The daughter was afterwards married to Albert de Grelle. 
He died in 1 1/9. 

In the history of Bicester his son Gilbert Basset is chiefly 
remarkable as the founder of the priory ; but as a baron he 
is noticed as one of the attendants at the coronation of King 
Richard ; and as a feudatory tenant of the honour of Walling- 

4 The«e seven fees consisted of the manors of Coleham and Uxbridge, com. 
Mic^d. Picheleshcrne, com. Buck. Burncestre, Stratton, and Wrechwike, 
com. Oxon. Ardington, com. Berks, and Compton in com. Wilts. — Kenn. 
p. 162, 163. 



152 LORDS OF THE MANORS 

ford, by his adherence to the cause of Earl John, for which he 
was compelled to purchase the king's pardon at the expense 
of eight pounds. The remaining incidents of his life may be 
comprised in the one hundred pound fine which he paid for 
leave to marry his daughter Eustace to Thomas de Verdon, a 
baron and lord of Heth, who shortly after died in Ireland; — in 
the excommunication passed upon him as an adherent of Earl 
John ; — and in his great benefactions to the Knights Tem- 
plars. It is generally supposed that he died and was interred 
abroad in 1203; but his wife Egiline de Courteney survived 
him several years, and was buried in Bicester priory about 
12135. 

On the death of Thomas de Verdon the guardianship 
of the young widow became a valuable prize to the posses- 
sor, and Gerard de Camvil, lord of Middleton, immedi- 
ately gave one thousand pounds for this purpose and leave 
to marry her to his son Richard (A. D. 1200). From an in- 
quisition taken on their succession to the honours of her father, 
the return of seven knight's fees is a proof that no part of the 
original grant had been hitherto alienated ; and the fine of 
two thousand marks and ten palfreys conveys an idea of the 
nature and extent of a relief. It is probable that hencefor- 
ward the lords of Bicester abandoned the mansion and park 
of Gilbert Basset for the castle of Middleton, and from that 
period to the final disposal of the manor there does not ap- 
pear to have been any edifice in the town sufficiently capacious 
to afford them a residence. 

Nothing has reached these times concerning Richard Cam- 
vil, except his confirmation of the charters of the founder and 
foundress of the priory, and a trifling grant to the same re- 
ligious house. He died in 1215, and his daughter and heir, 



5 Egelin de Cuurtenai est de do'ne d'ni R. et t'ra ejus valet in Burnestr, lv". 
—.Testa de Nevil. Record Hen. III. p. 167. 



OF BICESTER AND WRETHCWIC. 153 

Idonea, was given in wardship to William Longspe, earl of 
Salisbury (son of the celebrated fair Rosamond), with liberty 
of disposing her in marriage to William his son. 

The extensive possessions accompanying the marriageof Ido- 
nea deCamvil enabled the second William Longspe to urge his 
claim to the earldom of Salisbury with greater force 6 ; but the 
necessity of deterring men of noble birth and splendid talents 
from joining the ranks of an invader, by despoiling the offender 
and his posterity of their honours, rendered every application 
for that dignity unavailing. Yet to convince him that no 
personal considerations influenced the decision, his sovereign 
granted him the several manors of Audiberne, Wamberg, and 
a moiety of Shrivesham, by the service of two knight's fees. 

Renowned in the profession of arms, in 1236 Longspe took 
the cross, and the legend says, " The terror of his name 
brought peace to the Christian world." Returning the same 
year, he so materially contributed to the victory of Xantoigne 
(27 Henry III.) that the king, in the fulness of his gratitude, 
granted him sixty marks out of the exchequer till he should 
obtain judgment on the earldom he claimed, which w r as pro- 
mised immediately on the king's return to England. 

Again disappointed in his expectations, he once more took 
upon him the cross (A.D. 1247) ; but his finances having failed 
him by the time he had reached Rome, he approached the 
pope and thus addressed him: " Sir, you perceive 1 am signed 
with the cross, and about to fight in this pilgrimage; my mar- 
tial reputation is great, but my estate is slender; for the king 
of England, my kinsman, hath deprived" me of my title and 
estate ; but as he did it judicially and not in displeasure I do 
not blame him. Involved in distress I am necessitated to have 
recourse to your holiness for assistance; and observing that 
Richard earl of Cornwall, though he is not signed with the 
<:ross, through the special grace of your highness, has collected 

* Ills father forfeited the earldom by joining Lewis, son of the King of France. 



154 LORDS OF THE MANORS 

many sums from those who are, I presume, to solicit the like 
favour, &c." The pope, considering the elegance of his address 
and the comeliness of his person, granted his request, and he 
immediately received above one thousand marks from those 
who had signed. 

Two years however elapsed before he proceeded in this ex- 
pedition, a part of which time was spent in his native land : 
but in July 1250, having received the blessing of his mother, 
Ela, abbess of Lacock, who had obtained a high repute for 
sanctity, he joined the French forces in the Holy Land, 
with many of the nobility and two hundred horsemen. The 
king of France received them with the greatest respect, and 
their valour was shortly displayed in the conquest of one of the 
strongest towers near Alexandria. 

Their march eastward affording them opportunities of seiz- 
ing on many caravans, and the success usually attendant on 
their enterprises, excited the jealousy of the French, and pro- 
duced such marks of enmity that Longspe and his followers 
resolved to remain at Acre with the Knights Templars till'the 
arrival of the rest of the English nobles, to whom he designed 
to represent his treatment from the French. But before the 
end of the year, passing from Damietta towards Cairo, the 
Saracens fell upon them with superior forces, and compelled 
the brave band to risk an engagement. In the desperate con- 
flict Longspe, after killing more than one hundred with his 
own hand, had the misfortune to be overpowered and fell. 
His bravery secured him a grave among his enemies, and two 
years afterwards his remains were removed with due ceremo- 
ny, and entombed by the Christians in the church of St. Cross, 
at Acre in Palestine. 

Mathew Paris reports that the night before his death 
(A.D. 1250, 34 Henry III.) " Ela his mother saw in a vision 
the heavens open, and her son in complete armour, which she 
knew by his shield, received with joy by the angels, and she 
asking c Who is this ? ' was answered, e Do you not know your 



OF BICESTER AND WRETCHW1C. 155 

son William and his armour?' she said, c Yes,' and was an- 
swered, ' It is he whom his mother now seeth.' She kept 
the vision in her mind; and when about six months afterwards 
his fate was told her, she lifted up her hands and with a 
cheerful countenance said, c 1, thy handmaid, give thee thanks, 
O Lord, that out of my sinful flesh thou hast caused such a 
champion against thy enemies to be born.' ' And the same 
author adds that, "When messengers were sent two years after 
to the Soldan of Babylon for the redemption of prisoners taken 
in war, the Soldan said, c I wonder much at you Christians 
who reverence the bones of the dead, that you do not inquire 
for those of the renowned and right noble William Longspe, 
because many strange things are reported of them (whether 
true or not I cannot say), namely, that in the dead of night 
there have been appearances at his tomb,, and that to some 
who have called upon his God, many things have been be- 
stowed from heaven. For which cause, and in consideration 
of his nobility and worth, we have caused his body to be here 
entombed.' Whereupon, at the messenger's desire, the body 
was delivered to them by the Soldan, and from thence carried 
to Acre^ and interred in the church of St. Cross." 

On the intelligence of this hero's death reaching England, 
in conformity with the usages of that age, the king seized ail 
his lands, but restored them to his widow Idonea upon her 
doing homage. At her death William her son succeeded to 
the estates of Bicester, Middleton, &c. (A. D. 1252); but 
part of the estates in Stratton and Wretchwic passed to James, 
baron of Audley, in frank marriage with Ela his wife^ a daugh- 
ter of the deceased William Longspe. 

Little is known of the third William Longspe, except his 
marriage with Maud, daughter of Walter Clifford, with whom 
he received a dowry of twenty-eight pounds two shillings and 
eight-pence in land at Calmington, Salop; and that his credit 
was injured in a tournament at Blythe. Yet he seems to have 
engaged in military enterprises^ for we find him contracting 



156 LORDS OF THE MANORS 

his daughter Margaret to Henry Lacy, eldest son of the earl 
of Lincoln, at the wars in Gascony (1256) ; and assigning the 
homages, rents, and services of Middleton and Bicester manor 
for her dowry. But it appears that the marriage was not con- 
summated for several years. 

Cut down in the prime and vigour of life (A.D. 1257> 41 
Henry III.), his widow Maud was compelled by the custom of 
the realm to promise on oath she would not marry again 
without the king's consent ere her dowry was assigned her : 
yet with true female policy, having placed her affections upon 
and privately married the Baron John GirTord \ she made a 
grievous complaint to the king that he had taken her by force 
from her manor-house at Kaneford, and conveyed her to his 
castle at Brimesneld, and still kept her in restraint. On being 
sent for, the baron judiciously denied the charge, paid a fine 
of three hundred marks for marrying her without the king's 
consent, and, having promised no farther complaint should be 
made, returned to enjoy the success of the scheme, which had 
thus secured the estates. In her widowhood she had carefully 
provided for the weal of her departed husband, by the gift of 
the lordship of Cavenby, Lincolnshire; four additional canons 
being appointed to Barlings in the same county, to pray for 
the souls of William and Maud Longspe. 

The wardship of the youthful heir and heiress was in the 
hands of the king and queen, till Alice, the mother of Henrv 
Lacy, obtained the grant of her husband's lands, and guar- 
dianship of her son, for the fine of three thousand seven 
hundred and fifty-four pounds 7 . By his marriage with 
Margaret Longspe he acquired the earldom of Salisbury, 
together with all her father's lands. In 1272 he was 
knighted with Edward, son to Richard king of Almain, then 
made earl of Lincoln, and the same year appointed governor 

7 Kennett, p. 271. 



OF BICESTER AND WRETCHWIC. 157 

of Knaresborough castle. At this time his influence with 
King Edward procured charters for fairs and markets at his 
manors of Dunnington, Leicestershire ; Buckby, Northamp- 
tonshire; Wainfleet, Wrangel, and Torreney, Lincoln. 

The martial spirit of Lacy first displayed itself in a quar- 
rel with Earl Warren, respecting a pasture near Crendon, 
which both parties proposed to settle their right to by battle. 
Forces were raised; but the King interposed, and from an in- 
quiry it appeared justice was on the side of Lacy. Fortune 
had reserved him a more glorious field for his noviciate ; and 
in the 'Oth of Edward I. he accompanied that monarch in his 
expedition into Wales. After its conquest he so studied the art 
of fortifying the north and marches, that the King granted 
him the land of Denbigh, where he built a town, walled, and 
erected a castle, calling it by the same name. On the front 
of the castle was his statue in long robes, and that of Marga- 
ret his wife ; and anciently prayers were made for Percy and 
Lacy. His statue still ornaments the entrance, but his lady's 
has lately fallen down R . 

Having been long married, and doubting whether he should 
have any children, he surrendered into the King's hands many 
of his large possession*:, on condition of their being restored 
in case of the accomplishment of that desirable event; and 
this it seems had taken place before 1291, for on the 28th of 
December, Edward I. restored them to him at Newcastle. 
He was, however, unfortunate in his sons; for one of them died 
in his minority, and the other was afterwards drowned in a 
deep well in the castle, on which account that structure was 
left unfinished. 

In 1292 he was appointed ambassador to France, to form a< 
treaty for restraining pirates from robbing merchants' ves- 

s Dugdale, p. 104. The statue of the founder over the castle is inclosed in 
a frame of buds and stalk*, and a figure of his wife Margaret on his {eft hand 
in a similar niche was lately pulled down. Gough's CamJen^ol-. l 2 ; p. 579, 



158 LORDS OF THE MANORS 

sels 9 . The next year he accompanied the King in another 
expedition into Wales, but received a repulse not far from 
Denbigh: the expedition, however, terminated favourably. 
The three following years he fought with doubtful success in 
Gascony and Scotland ; and during the whole reign of Ed- 
ward was continually employed in wars or negotiations. Such 
was the high opinion that monarch entertained of his probity 
and fidelity, that on his death-bed he exacted the promise " to 
be good to his son, and never to permit his favourite Gave- 
ston's return into England." In compliance with his dying 
master's request, he with others entered into a solemn league 
for the defence of the young king's honour, and the rights of 
his crown. In return he was constituted governor of Skippon- 
castle, and about three years afterwards appointed governor 
of the realm in the king's absence, 1310. 

In the last years of his life he had the mortification of see- 
ing Gaveston triumph over the king's affections, and by his 
ill conduct likely to involve the country in the heaviest cala- 
mities. The barons had confederated to oppose the favourite, 
and in the last illness of Lacy he sent for Thomas Earl of 
Lancaster, who had married his only daughter Alice, and 
thus addressed him : Cf Seest thou the Church of England 
heretofore honourable and free, enslaved by Romish supersti- 
tions and the King's unjust exactions ; — seest thou the com- 
mon people impoverished by tribute and taxes, and reduced 
to slavery, and the nobility vilified by aliens in their own na- 
tive country ! I therefore charge you in the name of God and 
Christ, to stand up like a man for the honour of God and 
his Church, and the 1 ademption of your country: associate 
yourself with Guy Earl of Warwick, when it is proper to 
debate of the affairs of your country, and fear no opposers ; 



9 A description of this bloody piratical war may be seen in Hume's Eng- 
land, page 182, voi. 2. Edin. ed. 1303. 



OF BICESTER AND WRETCHWIC. 159 

thus shall you gain eternal honour/' He departed this life 
at his mansion called Lincoln's Inn, in the suburbs of Lon- 
don, A. D. 1310; was one of the greatest barons in the realm ; 
had possessions in Bucks, Berks, Dorset, Hereford, Derby, 
Middlesex, Lincolnshire., Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, 
Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire, Somerset, and Wales. He 
was in many instances a liberal benefactor to the religious, 
particularly Bicester, Salcy, &c. To the canons of 3ours- 
cough he ratified the grant of Henry Torbock. and Eleve his 
wife, of a place called Ruddegate, with this proviso, that a 
leper from the lordship of Wideness should be admitted and 
maintained in the priory, mass celebrated at Easter, and his 
name, and the name of Margaret his wife, registered in their 
Martyrology. 

By his interest with Edward I. he procured charters for 
many markets on his different manors. Among the rest be ob- 
tained the appointment of a Monday market, and annual fair 
on the eve and day of St. Thomas the Apostle, at Middleton 
(Stoney) A. D. 1293, 21 Edward I. which it is likely was at- 
tended by the neighbouring villagers till the establishment of 
one in Bicester. 

After the death of Margaret Longspe he married Joan the 
sister and heir of William Martin, who survived him; and af- 
terwards without the king's license married Nicholas de Aud- 
ley. — He left Alice his only daughter and heir contracted to 
Thomas son and heir of Edmund Earl of Lancaster, A. D. 
1282, then only nine years of age. 

An inquisition taken immediately on the Earl of Lincoln's 
death informs us that he held the manor of Bicester in right 
of his wife as of the honour of IVallingford, by military ser- 
vice; that there were within the manor one hundred and sixty 
acres of land ; that the prior of Bicester held of him the site 
of the priory, four carucates of land, twenty acres of meadow, 
and one water-mill, with other appurtenances of fortv pounds 



iGo 



LORDS OF THE MANORS 



yearly value, together with the church of the said town of 
thirty marks value, and the manor of Wretchwic of twenty 
pounds per annum. 

Thomas Earl of Lancaster, husband of Alice Lacy, who 
succeeded in her right to to the estates of Bicester and Mid- 
dleton, was first prince of the blood ; and by the union of the 
Lincoln estates with his paternal domains, attended with all 
the jurisdiction and power annexed to landed property in that 
age, was by far the most powerful and opulent subject in the 
kingdom. It was no wonder, therefore, that he mortally hated 
Gaveston, who had concentrated all the regal authority in him- 
self, and treated the ancient nobility with contempt. Lancas- 
ter's vast possessions and influence soon made him the chief 
of the confederate barons; and success attending their cause, 
he was made hereditary Sleiuard of England. 

A. D. 1311. When the weak Edward could no longer bear 
the absence of his minion, and the return of Gaveston lighted 
up the flames of civil war, the Earl of Lancaster once more 
put himself at the head of the malcontents, and pursued the 
king and his favourite from York to Newcastle. On his ar- 
rival he found the king had escaped to Tynemouth, and from 
thence sailed to Scarborough, where he had lodged the favourite 
in the castle. Besieged by the Earl of Pembroke, Gaveston 
surrendered on condition of safety till a general pacification. 
Under colour of fulfilling the conditions, Pembroke conducted 
him to Deddington castle between Bicester and Banbury, 
where he left him with a feeble guard under pretence of 
other business. . In his absence the Earl of Warwick, proba- 
bly as concerted with Pembroke, attacked the castle ; the 
garrison refused to resist; and the unfortunate Gaveston was 
taken to Warwick castle, where Lancaster, Hereford, and 
Arundel, ordered him to immediate execution. 

Though the anger of the confederates was somewhat ap- 
peased by the death of the favourite, their designs were not 



OF BICESTER AND WRETCHWIC. l6l 

completed. They repeatedly attempted to impose restrictions 
on the King, and the kingdom was perpetually subject to out- 
rages from the different partisans, in one of these, Alice the 
wife of Thomas of Lancaster was taken by violence from his 
seat at Caneford in Dorset, by the Earl of Warrene, and con- 
ducted to Rygate castle. In their journey the party were 
sadly frightened by a company with banners at a distance, 
which they suspected were coming to her rescue; and they 
fled with precipitation : but closer observation proving them 
only a religious procession, they returned and took the lady. 
As they passed, a mean crook-backed fellow challenged the 
countess for wife, alleging he had known her before she was 
married; which not being denied, she was delivered up to him, 
and in her right he afterwards claimed the earldoms of Lin- 
coln and Salisbury in the King's court. This event occasioned 
a divorce between Alice and Thomas Earl of Lancaster. 

1317. The estates of Middleton and Bicester remained 
with Alice after her divorce ; but whether she ever married 
the crook-backed Richard de St. Martin is unknown. Stowe 
says the separation from Lancaster could produce no regret, 
for they had no regard for each other. 

In 1323, having married Eubolo Le Strange, son of John 
Lord of Knockyn, (for whom she had long had an affection,) 
without the King's consent, all her estates were seized, and 
she was obliged to renounce the whole of her property except 
three thousand marks per annum I0 . Bicester and Middleton 
were surrendered to Hugh Despencer the younger; and Ken- 
nett intimates that these forfeitures were imposed by Roger 
Mortimer Earl of March. 

Their property was afterwards increased by the fee of De 
la Hay, and an annuity for the third penny of Lincoln out of 



10 She had originally estates to the amount of ten thousand marks per an- 
num. 

M 



162 LORDS OF THE MANORS 

the forfeitures of her former husband II . And four years after 
the downfall of Hugh Despencer, the King regranted them 
many of their estates, among which were Bicester and Mid- 
dleton. 

On the death of Eubolo, occasioned by fatigue in the Scot- 
tish wars (1335) , Alice married Sir Hugh de Fresnes, a French 
knight, who shortly after died of a bloody flux I2 . 

The eventful life of Alice closed the Thursday after the 
feast of St. Michael, 23 Edward III. at the age of sixty-seven, 
and is thus entered in an ancient MS. in the Cotton Library: 
(c Moritur Alesia Comitissa Lincolnise, anno aetatis suae 67 & 
anno Gratiae 1348, circa festum S. Mathsei Apostoli & Evan- 
gelists, & sepulta est in ecclesia canonicorum de Berlyng, 
juxta corpus Eubulonis mariti sui, nee reliquit post se hseredem 
aliquem de suo corpore procreatum, sed in ejus morte sanguis 
& hereditaria successio ultimse progeniei de Lacy (proh dolor) 
terminatur I3 . 

The estates of Bicester and Middleton on the death of Alice 
passed to Sir Roger Le Strange, of Knockyn, who had married 
Joan a daughter and coheir of Oliver de Ingram, a descendant of 
Isabel daughter and coheir of William Longspe I4 . — Sir Roger 
was eminent in the wars of Edward III. and in the sixth year 
of that monarch found ten men at arms and sixteen archers. — 
He died July 29, 1349, leaving Roger his son and heir twenty- 
two rs years of age, by Maud his first wife. 

This nobleman also was in most of the expeditions against 
France in the reigns of Edward and Richard II. He died 26th 

11 Anciently territorial jurisdiction and official power were attached to the 
dignity of an earl, and he was allowed the third penny of the pleas of the 
county for his support. In the reign of Edward III. this diguity became titu- 
lar: the sheriff is now the king's officer. 

12 Kenn. p. 427. Dngdale's Baronage, vol. i. p. 6 68. 
*3 Monast. Anglic, torn. ii. p. 190. 

ll > Topographer, vol. ii. p. 312. London, 1790. 

'5 The manor of Middleton was settled as a jointure on Joan his mother-in- 
law, afterwards married to Sir Miles de Staplcton. 



OF BICESTER AND WRETCHWIC. l63 

August, 1382, (6 Richard II.) Bicester and Middleton re- 
mained with Aliva, his relict, till her death, A. D. 1386. 

After the death of Sir John their son and heir, (1398) his 
wife Maud- 16 , daughter and coheir of Sir John de Mohun, held 
the estate till her decease (5 Henry IV.) September 20, 1403 I7 . 
1409. The possession of the manor by Sir Richard their son 
is marked by a trial in the King's-bench for the manor of 
Middleton, which was adjudged to him on proving his descent 
from Roger, brother to Eubolo Le Strange the husband of 
Alice de Lacy l8 . 

In 1415 Il) , on Easter Sunday in the afternoon, Constance 
the wife of Sir Richard Le Strange contended with the wife of 
Sir John Trussel, of Warmington, Cheshire, for precedency 
of place, at the sermon in St. Dunstan's church, East Cheap, 
London : upon which disturbance the two husbands and all 
the retinue engaged in the quarrel. In the fray several were 
wounded, and one Thomas Petwarden, fishmonger, slain. 
On the affair being reported to the Archbishop of Canterbury, 
he suspended the church, and caused the sentence of excom- 
munication to be read against the authors of it in all the 
churches in the city. On the 21st of April the said Arch- 
bishop sat at St. Magnus to inquire of the authors of that 
disorder, when he found the fault to be in the Lord Strange 
and his wife, who upon the first of May following submitted 
themselves to penance, which was thus enjoined them : " That 
immediately all their servants, in their shirts, go before the 
parson of St. Dunstan's, from Paul's to St. Dunstan's church, 
and the lord bare-headed with a wax taper lighted, and the 
lady barefooted; Reginald Ken wold, archdeacon of London, 



lG Elizabeth mother of Maud is reported to have begged from hev husband 
as much land as she could walk round barefoot in one day, to give for a com- 
mon to the inhabitants of the town of Dunstcr, Salop. Kennett, p. 527, 
apud Cambden. »7 lb. p. 542. > 8 lb. p. 552. 

''•' Stow says 1417, Annates, p, 352. 

M 2 



1 6*4 LORDS OF THE MANORS 

following them ; and at the hallowing of the church, the lady 
should fill all the vessels with water, and should offer an orna- 
ment of tenne pound, and the Lord Strange should offer a 
pixe of five pounds." — A good example of discipline and obe- 
dience 20 . 

Notwithstanding the above irreligious act, the susceptibility 
of her mind to religious impressions may be gathered from 
he; last will and testament (8th March, 1438), wherein she 
bequeaths her body to ecclesiastical sepulture, wherever it 
should please her husband, granting five pounds for a placebo, 
dirge, and two hundred masses for the repose of her soul 2I . 

Sir Richard died 27 Henry VI. leaving John his son and 
heir five years of age, by Elizabeth his second wife, daughter 
of Reginald Lord Cobham of Sterborough ". 

Joane the sole daughter and heir of Sir John Le Strange, 
and Jacquet 2? his wife, daughter to Richard Widvill Earl Ri- 
vers, married George, son and heir-apparent to Thomas Stan- 
ley first Earl of Derby, whereby the manor passed into that 
family. 

Dugdale informs us that this George received the order of 
the Bath with prince Edward, 18th April, 15 Edward IV. ; and 
was summoned to parliament by the title of Lord Strange of 
Knockyn, from the time of his marriage till the 12th of Henry 
VII. The fidelity of the Stanleys to the family of Edward IV. 
was so well known to their uncle Richard, that after he as- 
sumed the sceptre, and the children had disappeared, all com- 
munication was forbidden with the Earl of Richmond, who 
then was considered the head of the adverse party. To gain 
their favour the father was appointed steward of the house- 



*° Kennctt, p. 560. 21 Ibid. 

*- The Inquisition recites " the manor of Burcestre held of the King as part 
of the honour of Wailingford by the service of the thirtieth part of one knight' s 
fee. lb. p. 662. Dugdale, vol. iy. p. 666. 

*i Sister to Elizabeth, wife of Edward IV- Dugdale, vol. i. p. 666. 



OF BICESTER AND WRETCHWIC. 



165 



hold, constable of England, and knight of the Garter. Sus- 
picion, however, so preyed upon the mind of the king, that 
he refused Lord Stanley permission to retire into the country, 
till he had given up Lord Strange as a pledge for his fidelity 24 . 
But even this did not finally prevent his acting against that 
monarch. On the evening of the fatal battle he took the 
doubtful post of Atherstone (nearly at an equal distance from 
both parties), and this ambiguous conduct induced some of 
Richard's courtiers to advise the immediate sacrifice of the 
Lord Strange 25 . Nothing but the hope of preserving the 
father's allegiance, by this invaluable prize, till victory over 
his enemies placed him in a fearless state, withheld the King 
from following their advice : nor till the armies had joined 
battle did the Lord Stanley deem it prudent to join his friends; 
and the disastrous issue of the fatal battle of Bosworth for 
ever prevented Richard's resenting the desertion. 

To reward Lord Stanley's important services, the victor 
created him Earl of Derby on the day of his coronation; but 
no additional honour was bestowed on Lord Strange. — Dying 
during his father's life- time, his s"on Thomas had livery of his 
lands 9th July, 19 Henry VII. and succeeded to the earldom 
of his grandfather in the reign of Henry VIII. Of the latter 
nobleman little has reached us, save his accompanying Henry 
into France, when he won Theroune and Tournay; and that 
by will he requested to be buried at Bourscough, Lancashire; 
Syon Monastery, Middlesex; or Asherrugge College, according 
to the county in which he might die. Departing this life at 
Culham, 24th May 1521, he was buried accordingly at Syon. 

The life of Henry, his eldest son and successor, abounds in 
incidents. He was one of the principal persons in Wolsey's 

** Lord Stanley's having married the mother of the Earl of Richmond nati> 
rally led Richard to suspect him. See Dagdale, vol. ii. p. 248. 

-5 He had a private interview with the Earl yf Richmond the day before 
the battle. Ibid. 



166 



LORDS OF THE MAJORS 



embassy to France, and was afterwards employed to demand 
the liberty of Pope Clement on the Duke of Bourbon's sacking 
Rome (22 Henry VII I .) . He was one of those peers who sub- 
scribed the declaration sent to the Pope, stating the danger 
of his supremacy if he did not favour Henry's divorce. He 
was afterwards employed to raise forces to oppose the insur- 
rection of iC the Pilgrimage of Grace," a name assumed by 
the rebels who endeavoured to support the ancient religion 
(28 Henry VIII. A. D. 1536). He also attended the Duke of 
Norfolk, with many others of the nobility, in the Scottish wars 
(1542), though he did not long remain there. In the com- 
mencement of the reign of Edward VI. he was made knight 
of the Garter, and in the fourth year of the same reign wit- 
nessed the ratification of peace with France and Scotland. 

Enrolled among the partisans of Mary, he was constituted 
High Steward of England at her coronation, and seems to 
have remained in her favour. By Elizabeth he was appointed 
a privy counsellor, and doubtless continued in that honour till 
his death, which happened at Latham in 1572, when he was 
buried in the parish church of Ormskirk, where by will he di- 
rected that a chapel 26 and tomb should be erected; the mo^ 
nasteryof Bourscough, which was the burial-place of his ances-* 
tors, having fallen in the general wreck of religious houses. 

Henry, his son and heir, who succeeded him, was sum- 
moned to Parliament in the eighteenth year of Elizabeth, and 
afterwards employed in many important affairs. In 1585 he was 
sent with a numerous suite to carry the ensigns of the Garter 
to the king of France. The following year he was one of the 
peers who sat at Fotheringay upon the trial of the Queen of 
Scotland ; and two years afterwards was sent with other com- 
missioners to treat with the Prince of Parma, general of the 
king of Spain's forces in the Netherlands. 



Dugdale, p. 2+9, 250, 



OF BICESTER AND WRETCHWIC. 1 67 

32 Elizabeth. — Dugdale describes the last important office 
which he filled as that ot' Lord High Steward of England, upon 
the trial of the Earl of Arundel. He died the 25th of Sep- 
tember 1594, and according to his will was buried in his cha- 
pel of Ormskirk. 

By his countess Margaret, daughter to the Earl of Cumber- 
land, he had three sons, two of whom, Ferdinand and William, 
were successively Earls of Derby. 

- Ferdinand his son outlived him but a short time, and is 
chiefly remarkable for the manner of his death, thought by 
physicians to have been occasioned by a surfeit taken from 
violent exercise in Easter week 5 but firmly believed by the 
common people to have been effected by witchcraft. Stow 
has detailed every circumstance connected herewith at length ; 
and as it affords a curious instance of the credulity of that age, 
an abstract of the account may not be unacceptable. 

1594. The first of April, the Monday before His Honour 
fell sick, a woman presented a petition to him, requesting him 
to grant her a dwelling near his residence, that she might 
speedily reveal those things which God showed her for his 
good. The petition was thought vain, and refused. 

April 4. He dreamed his Lady was sick unto death 3 was 
troubled in sleep in consequence, but awaking and finding her 
well was comforted. Divers grave men had strange dreams 
or divinations concerning him about this time. 

April 5. There appeared suddenly in his chamber at 
Kronstey, about six o'clock at night, the figure of a tall man, 
with a ghastly and threatening countenance, who seemed to 
cross him in his chamber; and when the Earl approached the 
part where the spectre appeared, he fell sick. His secretary 
however saw nothing. The same night he dreamed he re- 
ceived several stabs in fighting. 

April 10. About midnight one Master Halsal found in 
the bed-chamber of the earl a spotted image of wax with hair 



l6S LORDS OF THE MANORS 

similar to His Honour's, twisted through the body. This image 
Halsal says he east into the fire before it was viewed, think- 
ing thereby to burn the witch, and relieve his lord ; but the 
contrary fell out, for he declined daily afterwards. 

April 12. One Jane, a witch, demanded of Master Go- 
borne whether His Lordship felt pain in his lower parts, and 
whether he made water as yet ; and that very night, notwith- 
standing all help, it stopped, and so remained till he died. 

Several justices examined certain witches ; one of whom 
they conjured in the name of Jesus, that if she had bewitched 
His Honour she should not be able to say the Lord's Prayer : 
accordingly she never could repeat the petition ( forgive us our 
trespasses/ though often repeated to her. 

A homely woman, about fifty years of age, was found 
mumbling in a corner of His Honour's chamber ; but what, 
God knoweth. Sometimes she seemed to ease His Honour; but 
whenever she did she seemed to suffer his pains, and partake 
of his complaint. While mixing and blessing certain herbs, 
one of the doctors who attended the Earl turned her out of the 
room ; yet afterwards she said she could ease but not perfectly 
help him, His Honour was so strongly bewitched. All physic 
wrought well, but procured him no ease. His pulse remained 
good, and as perfect as when in his best health till one ajiarter 
of an hour before he died. During the whole time of his 
sickness he cried out the doctors laboured in vain, for he was 
certainly bewitched. Twice when he would have taken physic 
he fell into a trance. In the end he often cried out against 
all witches and witchcraft, reposing his only hope of salvation 
on the merits of Christ Jesus, our Saviour 2 ". 

Dugdale, with much probability, supposes him poisoned, 
though he does not hint that suspicion fell upon any one. 
According to his will he was buried at Ormskirk. He left 

'/ Stow's Annales, p. 767-7G3. 



OF BICESTER AND WRETCIIWIC. 1 6$ 

issue by Alice his wife, daughter to Sir John Spencer of 
Althorpe, Northumberland, three daughters; Ann, married 
to Grey Burges Lord Chandois ; Frances, to Sir John Egerton, 
Knight, afterwards Earl of Bridgwater ; and Elizabeth, to 
Henry Lord Hastings, afterwards Earl of Huntington. 

William, his brother, succeeded him in his honours; but 
was speedily involved in a dispute with the daughters of his 
deceased brother, relative to his title to the Isle of Man, 
under pretence of its harbouring the queen's open enemies 
and many English runagates. Elizabeth committed the 
protection of it to Sir Thomas Gerrard till the controversy 
was determined. After much delay the commissioners for the 
inquiry declared that the Earl of Derby had no good title, be- 
cause Henry IV. on the outlawry of W. Scrope (then Lord) 
bestowed it on the Earl of Northumberland ; and upon the lat- 
ter's rebellion, six years after, granted it to John Stanley for 
life, Northumberland not being attainted, nor his possessions 
adjudged confiscate: that this title being found defective, about 
a month afterwards, the king and Stanley agreed those letters- 
patent to him for life should be surrendered and cancelled, and 
the estate be granted in fee : so that, considering the grant being 
made before the earl was legally attainted, they pronounced the 
king could not pass unto him any estate for life, and the other 
could not be valid. The matter was settled by the earl's 
paying to the widow and daughters of the late earl several 
sums of money, to quit their claims ; and afterwards the sove- 
reign granted it to him and his heirs i8 . 

The manor and estates, comprising nearly the whole of the 
town and parish of Bicester (except the grants to the dissolved 
priory), had passed in regular descent through several fe- 
males, but strictly according to the laws of primogeniture, 
from Gilbert Basset the elder to the present Earl of Derby. 

- 8 Dugdale, vol. ii. p. '231. 



1/0 LORDS OF THE MANORS 

But in 1596 this nobleman, in consideration of Thomas Wy- 
kins of London and Thomas Clements of Burcester paying him 
the sum of seven hundred and fifty pounds, by indenture 
bearing date the 29th of June, 39th of Elizabeth, granted for 
a term of ten thousand years to come all his right and title 
to the manor and lordship of Burcester, with all its members 
and appurtenances whatsoever ; also all and singular messu- 
ages, houses, out-houses, barns, edifices, and buildings of every 
kind; meadows, leases, pastures, feedings, commons of pas- 
tures, heaths, marshes, woods, underwoods, ways, waters, 
fishings, rents, &c. ; courts leet, court baron, frank pledge, 
profit of court, waifs, estrays, goods of felons, fugitives, and 
outlaws ; knights' fees, wards, marriages, escheats, reliefs, he- 
riots, fines, amercements, &c. ; and all profits belonging to 
the manor of Burcester : to getherwith the woods and under- 
woods called Earlcs Hill, in Ambrosden, and a close and 
cottage in Amcott, to be held for their own use and benefit, 
they covenanting to pay the said Earl of Derby and his heirs 
every year, at the feast of St. Michael the Archangel, one 
penny. The indenture further provides for and acknowledges 
the delivery of all muniments, charters, evidences, &c, to 
the aforesaid Thomas Wykins and Thomas Clements, relative 
to the manor and estates, which it describes held by the earl 
as in fee-simple or in fee-tail , 29 . The indenture is signed by 
the Earl of Derby (Will. Derby) in a very stiff hand, and has 
a small seal appending ; is witnessed by Thomas Ireland, Jo- 
seph Sparkes, and Deborah Wyinovv, and on the back signed 
by Thomas Clements. The term of ten thousand years com- 
mences from the feast of St. Michael following the date of the 
indenture. 

A few years after the date of the lease for ten thousand 
vears Lord Derby conveyed the reversion in fee- simple in the 

?? The original deeds are in the possession of the present Mr. Coker. 



OF BICESTER AND WRETCH WIC. I? 1 

manor, &c. &c. to certain persons in trust, for all the persons 
interested in that lease. This grant of the reversion is parti- 
cularly mentioned in the following decree of the Court of 
Chancery ; and the several persons interested in the lease are 
by that decree declared to be lords of the manor, &c. &c. 

BAILIWICK OF BICESTER. 

The manor, estates, &c, hereby becoming the property of 
those gentlemen for ten thousand years to come, was hence- 
forward denominated a bailiwick, and regarded a.s u pur- 
chased for the benefit of those inhabitants, or others who 
might hereafter obtain possession of parts of the demesne" 
now offered for sale 30 . Accordingly we find Wykins and Cle- 
ments soon after disposing of several estates by lease, and in 
all probability on the same conditions on which they pur- 
chased them. But when they had afterwards obtained the 
reversion of the manor, &c. they wished either to regain or 
retain the chief part of the manorial rights, which was op- 
posed by the last purchasers, and " various law-suits com- 
menced." To end these, an order was obtained in Chancery 
for the matters in dispute to be settled by arbitration ; and 
John Welsborne of Fulwell, and James Power of Blechingdon, 
Esquires ; Robert Wincott of W. and Eudulphe Dingley of 
Yarnton, gents., were appointed arbitrators. These by a de- 
cree dated the 1st of April, 3rd of James I. (A. D. 1605), 
finally ordained that Thomas Clements and his sons (pro- 
bably Thomas Wykins having no longer interest therein) should 
resign all claim to the royalty of the manor or town of Bur- 
chester, together with the profit of the court- leet and court- 
baron, which should be assigned in that way which the ma- 
jority of partisans to the decree should appoint, for their use 
and benefit. (i Also in like manner to resign the bailiwick to 



3° See a letter from Mr. T. Clements to Mr. T. Coker, when in treaty for the 

purchase of the estates. 



17 2 BAILIWICK OF BICESTER. 

the same persons ; and to prevent all disputes respecting the 
appointment of bailiff, John Lacy should be deputed to ex- 
ecute that office for one year." It was moreover determined, 
for the settlement of all disputes, that no one shall be per- 
mitted to erect any buildings on any part of the market- 
place ; and in consequence a butcher's shop of recent erection 
was ordered to be removed. There is also an item, " We do 
order and decree that the mortar-pitts and stone-pitts neare 
Burcester shall remayne and be to the use and behofTe of the 
late Earle, his tenants, as in tymes past they have been used 
and accustomed n ." Following is an enumeration of the set- 
tlement of several houses near the market-place upon diffe- 
rent persons and their heirs. Then another item, " We order 
and decree that the Town Eail, Grarted House, all the soppes 
and pieces (Town Hall, Guard House, all the shops and 
buildings), built upon the waste, on or near the market-place 
in Burcester, and all the cottages in Crockwell, shall remain 
and be taken as part of the bailiwick, to be disposed of in the 
committee for the use above mentioned/' The decree finally 
provides, that in case any dispute should hereafter happen 
among the partisans to the same ; the surviving arbitrators 
have power to settle it. 

This decree having thus vested the manor and bailiwick in 
the. inhabitants who had purchased the leases of T. Wykins, 
T. Clements the elder, and his sons, it is evident no indivi- 
dual could hereafter become lord of the fee, unless it was pos- 
sible for him to obtain possession of the whole demesne, a 
case which it is probable will never occur, from the conflict- 
ing interest of the parties. That the changes incidental to 
every kind of property will necessarily give some a greater in- 
fluence than others, is inevitable : hence we find that when the 
estates in the possession of a descendant of Mr. Clements came 

?' This item clearly proves the right of every Derby-holder to dig stone* at; 
the stone pits. 



BAILIWICK OF BICESTER. 173 

to be added to those already in the hands of Mr. Thomas 
Coker, in the beginning of the eighteenth century, that gen- 
tleman was not inconsiderately regarded as lord of the manor. 
So when these were afterwards sold to Sir Edward Turner, 
owner of the priory estates, this accession of property seemed 
to warrant the transfer of the title, and has even led some 
authors of respectability to copy the assertions of the unin- 
formed inhabitants. 

The market and fairs are held under the bailiwick, which 
now belongs to Sir Gregory P. O. Turner, John Coker, Esq., 

Rev. Lockhart, Mrs. Cumming, Mrs. Churchill, and 

others; amongst which are two shares belonging to the poor 
of Bicester, which are divided annually into five parts, one of 
which is applied to the use of the poor of King's-End. 



CHAPTER XX. 

Priory Estates. 

J. hose parts of the priory estates contained in the manors of 
Bicester and Wretchwic were by letters-patent granted to 
Roger More, a second son of More de la More of Oxford- 
shire, in the 32d year of Henry VIII. A. D. 1540. Roger 
More died in September 1551. 

By the marriage of Mary, his eldest daughter, the estates 
passed into the hands of Sir Michael Blount of Maple-Dur- 
ham, Oxon. The latter gentleman, and probably the former, 
resided in a part of the dissolved priory. 

Whether the estates were disposed of by Sir Richard his son, 
as the parish papers seem to intimate, I have not the means of" 
ascertaining. They clearly appear to have been the property 
of the Glynnes in the protectorate of Cromwell. 

Sir William Glynne. who was created a baronet the 13th of 



1/4 PRIORY ESTATES. 

Charles II., was the son and heir of Lord Chief Justice Glynrie, 
who made a distinguished figure in the reign of Charles I. 
He erected a noble mansion at Ambrosden, enlarged the 
church-yard and the garden of the vicarage, assisted in the 
recovery of an estate originally designed to repair the church, 
gave a noble service of communion plate, and ornaments for 
the pulpit and altar of Bicester parish church. 

Sir William, his son and heir, served in parliament for the 
borough of Woodstock in the reign of Queen Anne. He con- 
siderably improved the glebe lands and ornamented the church 
at Ambrosden. His only son was the friend of Kennett, and 
by his interest Sir William presented him to the living of Am- 
brosden : to which circumstance, connected with the dis- 
pute relative to the estate withheld from the purpose of re- 
pairing the church, we owe the valuable Parochial Antiqui- 
ties, perhaps one of the best collections any county can boast. 
As a tribute of respect, that writer has dedicated one of his 
plates (the view of the family mansion at Ambrosden) to his 
young friend. This excellent gentleman died before his father. 
Sir William departed this life Septembers, 1721. 

His brother Sir Stephen succeeded him in his dignity and 
estates; but did not long survive him, dying in April 1729, 
when his eldest son by the fourth daughter of Sir Edward 
Evelyn of Long Button, Bucks, became possessed of them. 
His life, however, was not long spared, for he died the follow- 
ing September unmarried. 

About 1727 it appears Sir Stephen Glynne was in treaty for 
the sale of the estates of Bicester, Wretchwic, and Ambros- 
den. They finally passed into the possession of the Tur- 
ners, a family originally of Leicestershire. On the 24th of 
August 1733, Edward Turner, Esq. was created a baronet bv 
George II. He married Mary, daughter of Sir Gregory Page 
of Blackheath, and left one son and successor. He died in 
Lincoln's Inn, June 19, 1737. 



PRIORY ESTATES. 175 

In September 1739 his son, Sir Edward, married Cassan- 
dra, daughter of William Leigh of Addlestrope, Gloucester- 
shire, by whom he had issue. 

In the election of 1734 Sir Edward and Lord Parker ap- 
peared as the candidates for the county of Oxford •on the new 
interest, and Sir James Dashwood and Lord Wenman on the 
old. To such a height was party spirit carried, that enor- 
mities and excesses the most flagrant were committed on both 
sides. The candidates and their friends visited every part of 
the county, and expended vast sums to secure the interest 
of the freeholders. At Bicester Sir Edward endeavoured to 
increase the number of his partisans by converting many of 
the Derby-holds into freehold estates K By these and other 
means the new interest finally prevailed, though not before an 
appeal to the House of Commons. This election is still re- 
membered by the oldest inhabitants of the county, who fre- 
quently amuse themselves and their children by accounts of 
the Great Election. 

The mansion of the Glynnes was partly rebuilt and enlarged 
by Sir Edward ; and the park received considerable additions 
on the western side by the inclosure of many acres in Merton 
parish. Numerous gravel-walks, statues, and lodges orna- 
mented its lawns and woods. The young plantations and pro- 
gressive improvements employed many of the poor, to whom 
Sir Edward was a constant and liberal benefactor. He died 



1 As Sir Edward neither was nor could be lord of the manor of Bicester, and 
consequently could not be vested with any interest in the leases, it was pre- 
tended that the legal heir of the original lessor had relinquished all claim at 
the instance of Sir Edward. But there seems to be a general suspicion among 
the inhabitants of Bicester, that some unfair proceedings took place at that 
time ; for great numbers of the parish records were then either taken away or 
destroyed. Sir Edward is believed to have been too honourable a man to be 
concerned in the latter transaction, and the crime seems to have been com- 
mitted by some less respectable agent. 



176 PRIORY ESt AXES. 

in the midst of his useful career, October 31, 1766, and was 
succeeded by his son, Sir Gregory. 

Tradition has currently reported that on the death of his 
father, Sir Gregory instantly mounted his horse, and rode 
round to all the workmen employed about the plantations, 
walks, &c, and forbad them to proceed; — that every work was 
stopped, and those employed discharged. Shortly after, great 
part of the timber in the park and on the estates was cut 
down ; the materials of the lodges sold, and the land disparked 
and inclosed. Sir Gregory considering the house too large, 
pulled down a part, but afterwards observing the remaining 
structure unshapely took down the whole. Thus about 1769 
terminated the existence of the mansion of the Glynnes and 
Turners, after having proclaimed their opulence and gran- 
deur for above a century. Cotemporaries describe the structure- 
raised by Sir Edward as noble and magnificent. Many of the 
workmen employed in its erection were concerned in its de- 
molition, and it was remarked that the walls were not dry in 
many places. Two trees planted at its extremities attest its 
extent, and the reverberation of its hollow vaults, conjointly 
"with the neighbouring solitary moat, serves to remind the con- 
templative stranger of the mutability of all earthly grandeur. 

In August 1795, Sir Gregory on succeeding to the estates 
of his great-uncle and godfather, Sir Gregory Page, by his will 
and by virtue of his majesty's signature, added to his own the 
name and arms of Page. The splendid mansion of Black- 
heath he sold to John Cator, Esq., who shortly after disposed 
of it in lots by auction. 

Sir Gregory was married January 1783 to Frances, daughter 
of Joseph Howel, Esq., of Elm, Norfolk, by whom he had 

Sir Gregory Osborne, his successor, born Sept. 28, 1785. 

Frances Stackpole, born January 15, 1787. 

Edward George Thomas, born September 12, 1789. 

Ann Leigh Gray, born August 9, 1791, died March 1804, 



PRIORY ESTATES. 177 

Francis William Martin, born February 15, 1794. 

Sir Gregory Page Turner died at his house in Portland- 
place in 1805, aged fifty-seven. He* was chosen member of 
parliament for Thirsk, in Yorkshire, in 1784, which he re- 
presented till his death. It was said that having stood, and 
lost, a trial with the maker of an iron bridge over a stream in 
his garden, which amounted to nine hundred pounds, the 
chagrin on this event occasioned his death. On examining his 
secretaire his executors found sixteen thousand seven hundred 
guineas. His remains were interred in the family vault at 
Bicester. 

By his will he bequeathed five hundred pounds per annum, 
in addition to the seven hundred pounds settled on Lady 
Turner at the time of marriage ; ten thousand pounds to his 
second son, and ten thousand pounds to each of his daughters. 
The bulk of his landed and funded property he settled on his 
eldest son Sir Gregory, amounting to three hundred and ten 
thousand pounds. The net produce of the landed property 
is about twenty-four thousand pounds per annum 7 . 



CHAPTER XXL 

Annals of Bicester, &c* 

Circa 634. Bicester founded. 

873. Battle fought with the Danes near Graven-hill by 
Ethelred and Alfred. The Danes gain the victory. 

Circa 912. Old Town of Burencester destroyed by the 
Danes. 

7 Gentleman's Mag., March 1803. 
N 



178 ANNALS OF BICESTER, ETC. 

1 156. Henry II. grants a charter of privileges to the men 
of the honour of Wallingford, in which Bicester is included. 

1 1 82. Gilbert Basset founded the monastery of St. Edburg. 

1193. A tournament on Bayards Green. The following is 
the letter by which King Richard permitted it to be held :— 
€€ Richard by the grace of God, &e. To the Reverend Father 
in Christ, Hubert Archbishop of Canterbury, &c, greet- 
ing. Know that we have permitted tournaments to be held 
in England in five places ; between Sarum and Wilton, between 
Stamford and War renford, between Warwick and Kennelworth, 
between Brackley and Mixbury, and between Blie and Tytchill, 
yet so that thepeaceof the land be not broken, nor damage done 
to our forests ; and an Earl who shall tourney there shall pay 
us twenty marks; a Baron ten marks; a Knight who has land 
shall pay four marks \ and a Knight who has no land shall pay 
us two marks. No foreigner shall tourney there. Wherefore 
we command you that on the day of the tournament you shall 
provide at each place two clerks, and your two Knights to re- 
ceive tho oath from the Earls and Barons for their satisfaction 
concerning the said sums, &c." 

These tournaments were brought into England during the 
reign of King Stephen, and much encouraged by the martial 
disposition of the people, and their tendency to increase the 
king's revenues. The mischiefs attending them were so great 
that they were shortly prohibited by the popes, and under the 
penalty of denying the offenders Christian burial. Though 
restrained by act of parliament in the reign of Henry, under 
the penalty of the heirs of the offender forfeiting their estates, 
the custom was not abolished until the reign of Edward III. 
Another tournament was held here in the 33d of Henry III. 

1215. The tyranny, rapacity, and lechery of John hav- 
ing rendered him odious and contemptible to his subjects, the 
barons flew to arms, and after several meetings adjourned to 
Brackley, whither the king sent messengers to learn their de- 



ANNALS OF BICESTER, ETC. 179 

mands, which they delivered in a schedule afterwards called 
Magna Charta. After some opposition and delay the king 
was ohliged to agree and sign. During these negociations 
this part of the country was the passage between the mes- 
sengers. 

1265. These parishes commanded to send out four or five 
men each, according to their population, to meet at Oxford 
three weeks after Easter, and thence to march to Kennel- 
worth against the rebellious barons. The men marched under 
Robert GifTord. 

1326. These parts much concerned in the revolution 
which finally deposed Edward II. and elevated his son to the 
throne. 

1355. May 25. The king grants his licence for the build- 
ing and endowment of an hospital in Bicester. 

1377. King Richard II. grants a licence to Sir John de 
Worthe for a fair and market in Biggenhul, in Bicester. 

Circa 1400. The parish church built. 

Biggenhul market and fair confirmed to Humphrey Duke 
of Buckingham and John Felmersham, lords of the manor. 

Robert Brooks obtains letters-patent for a market in Bices- 
ter Bury-end, which afterwards assumes the name of Market- 
end ; and Biggenhul Monday market is discontinued. 

1535. Bicester monastery visited. 

Circa 1536. Surrendered into the hands of the King, and 
the Prior and Monks obtain pensions. 

1538. The monastery granted to the Duke of Suffolk^ the 
King's brother. 

1540. Letters-patent granted to Roger More and his wife, 
conveying the land, house, and appurtenances of the late 
priory to them and their heirs. 32 Henry VIII. z 

1555. On Easter Sunday a priest, sometime a monk of 

1 Michaelis Record, Rot. 44. 
N 2 



180 ANNALS OF BICESTER, ETC. 

Ely and of Bicester, named William Branch, alias Flower, 
with a wood-knife wounded another priest as he was minis- 
tering the sacrament to the people in St. Margaret's church, 
in Westminster, for which fact the said William Flower, the 
24th of April, had his right-hand smitten off; and for opi- 
nions in matters of religion was burned in the Sanctuary nigh 
to St. Margaret's church-yard 2 . 

1634. The heralds visit Oxfordshire. Cadwalader Coker's 
arms are confirmed, together with those of the Oxfordshire 
gentry : at the same time a special entry is made, that 
Richard Clements of Bicester is no gentleman, and Richard 
Clark no gentleman, and that they disclaim arms*. 

During the protectorate Oliver Cromwell is said to have 
visited Bicester, and slept one night at a house near the 
market-place, belonging to a Mr. Medcalf. 

1666. A summer of excessive' drought induces Mr. John 
Coker, lord of King's-end, to re-open St. Edburg's Well, 
whose waters flow abundantly. 

1678. April 28. (e A terrible tempest of lightning, hail, 
and rain, which continued several hours, burnt much corn 5 
some barns and out-houses, and killed many cattle ; also 
spoyled several persons, and had like to have destroyed the 
whole town 4 /' — The buildings destroyed are supposed to have 
stood at the back of the house now occupied by Mr. Walford, 

1683. October 9. An earthquake felt all over Oxford- 
shire and the midland counties 5 . 

1695. Kennett's Antiquities of Bicester, &c. published. 

1698. The large gallery in the church built 6 . 

1704. The small-pox raged so dreadfully in Bicester that 
it nearly occasioned the ruin of the market; insomuch that 



* Stow's Annates, 626. 3 Harleian MSS. No. 1557. 

4 Quavto Pamphlet, 1678. * Philosophical Trans. No. 32 1. 

6 Wardens' book. 



ANNALS OF BICESTER, ETC. 181 

grass grew in the market-place, and it bore the appearance 
of a green meadow. The market has never since recovered 
its importance 7 . 

1718, Sir Edward Longueville broke his neck at Bicester 
races 8 . 

1724. A sudden and terrible fire, occasioned by the chim- 
ney of Thomas Harris and Richard Baker, which in about 
three hours consumed and destroyed ten dwelling-houses, be- 
side ware-houses, malt-houses, stables, and out-houses, in all 
about one hundred and fifty-nine bays of buildings, and con- 
taining great quantities of malt, barley, beans, oats, tobacco^ 
flax, hemp, hay, candles, household goods, wearing apparel, 
&c. ; the loss whereof, as near as can be computed by able 
and experienced workmen, amounted to two thousand two 
hundred and thirty-one pounds fifteen shillings and eight- 
pence. Several of the sufferers obtained relief by a petition 
presented to the gentry in the neighbourhood 9 . 

1730. A large fire in King's-end, which consumed many 
houses. 

174f. Mr. Raymond (a hemp-dresser) raised a company of 
volunteers to oppose the progress of the Pretender, which are 
supposed to have cost that gentleman five hundred pounds IO , 

1752. The Pest House built for the accommodation of 
those infected with the small-pox 11 . 

1754. Meeting of the candidates Sir E. Turner and Sir 

7 Communication by Mr. T. Harris. 

8 Lysons's Buckinghamshire, Art. Wolverton. — Sir Edward's estate in that 
village had been sold to Dr. Radclife about six years before. — The races were 
held in King's-end field. 

9 Petition now remaining in the hands of Mr. T. Harris, a descendant of 
one of the sufferers. 

l * The residence and manufactory of Mr. Raymond was on the site of the 
isouse now occupied by Mr. Davis. 
J * Communication by Mr, T. Harris. 



182 ANNALS OF BICESTER, ETC. 

James Dashwood at Bicester, for the purpose of canvassing 
for the county representation". 

1758. Bicester Field enclosed. 

1763. The King of Denmark passed through Bicester. 

June 19. Began raining and continued mostly wet weather 
till the beginning of February 1764, and a perpetual flood 
from November to the beginning of February, a period of fif- 
teen weeks I2 . 

1765. August 3. A dreadful storm, and the church on 
fire by lightning. 

1774. November 21. Bovvden, a shoe-maker, barba- 
rously murdered by his journeyman George Strap, who beat 
out his brains with a hammer as he sat at work late one even- 
ing. Strap was executed at Oxford, and his body given to 
the surgeons 13 . 

1789. The town illuminated, and great rejoicings on the 
King's recovery. 

1793. The French revolutionary Government having coun- 
tenanced seditious and treasonable practices among the dis- 
affected in every part of the kingdom, a public meeting was 
held on January 3, and an association entered into by the in- 
habitants of the town and neighbourhood, for the purposes of 
C( holding out in their own practice an example of respectful 
submission to the laws ; endeavouring to bring to punishment 
all who by their writings or actions should in any manner dis- 
turb the public peace ; and assisting the civil power on every 
occasion that should require their interference." And to show 

11 In the ensuing election the numbers of votes stood as follows: — Wen- 
man 2033, Dashwood 2014, Parker 1313, Turner 1892. It seems that Mr. 
Coker supported Wenman and Dashwood with the votes of twenty-one inhabi- 
tants of Bicester. — Seven of Sir Edward Turner's votes in Bicester were struck 
off on scrutiny. — Gough's Pamphlets, Bod. Lib. Oxford. 

' a Memorandums on the lid of the Parish Register. 

*- inscription on Bowden's grave-stone. 



ANNALS OF BICESTER, ETC. 183 

their detestation of seditious writers, the day was closed by the 
burning of the effigy of the celebrated Thomas Paine on the 
Market-hill. 

3 794. Bicester King's-end Field enclosed. 

1795. The first stage-coach from Bicester to London. 

1798. This country being threatened with domestic fac- 
tion and foreign invasion, — in conformity with the example of 
the principal towns in England, the most respectable part of 
the inhabitants formed themselves into a Company of Volun- 
teers, for the protection of the government and maintenance of 
tranquillity. The establishment consisted of a captain, lieu- 
tenant, ensign, three Serjeants, and sixty privates ; the arms 
and accoutrements only were found by Government, but every 
other expense was either defrayed by themselves or drawn 
from a fund raised by subscription. At the peace of Amiens 
this company was dissolved ; but when in 1 803 the country 
was again menaced by invasion, the inhabitants once more re- 
sumed their arms, and a more effective company was formed, 
consisting of one captain-commandant, two lieutenants, one 
ensign, six serjeants, six corporals, and one hundred and twenty 
privates. Each of the volunteer corps were commanded by 
Henry Walford, Esq., and they had the honour of receiving 
publicly the thanks of the inspecting field-officers for their 
regular musters and proficiency in military tactics. Their per- 
mament duty was marked by similar honours, and they were 
reported " fit to join troops of the line." This company was 
dissolved in 1807 ,4 . 

1803. Bicester Bank established, under the firm of Kirby 
and Tubb. 

1810. The eastern gallery in the church erected. 

'* Communicated by Mr. W, Ball. 



AN INQUIRY 



INTO 



THE HISTORY OF 

A MILITARY STATION OF THE DO BUN I: 

The Site of which now forms a Part of the Field 

belonging to the Parish of Wendlebury, in the 

County of Oxford. 



&too& Scienter jlo fair anfc gooo ; 
StHectu^ toatt£ are fcrougfct fun roto, 
f©|im once tfcep ^toofc noto corn ootij 0rot&, 

MS. History of Alchester, apudKennett. 



is; 



ALCHESTER. 



1 HERB is a natural curiosity in the mind of man to become 
acquainted with the history of the neighbourhood in which 
he first drew his breath or Providence has fixed his residence; 
and if any particular spot is rendered memorable by vestiges 
of ancient magnificence or traditionary splendour, his curiosity 
is excited in a greater degree. But in proportion to the di- 
stance of time in which these remains flourished, the paucity 
of writers and the want of authentic documents increase the 
difficulty of obtaining information, and too often after an ex- 
tensive reading and laborious investigation, the mind of the 
inquisitive is thrown into the wild regions of conjecture. 

These observations particularly apply to those ancient relics 
of Roman greatness found in the meadows of Wendlebury Field, 
at a short distance from Bicester, which revolving centuries 
have universally regarded as the remains of a once flourishing 
city, known by the name of Alchester. — To investigate this 
opinion — to afford a view of the various conjectures of those 
writers who have professedly treated, or incidentally touched 
upon this subject, and to endeavour to ascertain the most 
probable period when the station rose to eminence, and fell 
to ruin— is the object of the present inquiry. 



Passing over every supposition relative to the appearance of 
the face of the country in which Alchester was situated, either 
as it presented itself to the aborigines, or the Roman armies^ 



188 ALCHESTER. 

it may be remarked that the first historical notice which can 
be relied on is, that the inhabitants of the principal districts 
now denominated Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire, at the time 
of the Roman invasion in the reign of Claudius, (A. D. 43,) 
were called Bodunni, or Dobuni, a name descriptive of their 
low or deep situation, and said by Kennett to be derived from 
the British word bodun signifying deep ' ; but according to 
Camden coming from Duffen (Divfn), a word in the same 
language of similar signification; because, inhabiting for the 
most part a plain, and valleys encompassed with hills, the whole 
people took their denomination from thence. The word Dob 
is observed in a late ingenious treatise to mean stream, and in 
the same work en> land, is shown to have been often varied to 
an or un. Thus the compound term Dobuni may be inferred 
strictly to signify a race possessing land on river-sides, or a 
people who are stream-borderers 2 . 

The Dobuni are introduced to our notice as a nation sub- 
jugated by the Cattieuchlani, a warlike people who inhabited 
part of the counties of Buckingham, Bedford, and Hertford. 
The distance of the Cattieuchlani seems to intimate that the 
Dobuni were few in number, or distracted by divisions, so that 
their more powerful neighbour was enabled to subdue and 
tyrannize over them 3 . While in this wretched condition, and 
unable to regain their independence, Bericus a British chief, 
supposed to be a person of distinction among the Dobuni, 
was expelled his native country for some factious intrigues^ 
and Jled to Rome *, where he endeavoured to excite the Em^ 
peror Claudius to attempt the conquest of Britain, perhaps ser 
cretlv offering the alliance and assistance of that people. This 



1 Paroch. Antiq. p. 5. 2 Beauties of Oxfordshire, p. 3. 3 Camden. 

4 Carte supposes that Beric was deprived of his estate and expelled his 
country by the Cattieuchlani when they subdued it. History of England, 
vol, i. p. J 00, 



ALCHESTER. 189 

enterprise being resolved upon, a numerous army was ordered 
to be conducted out of Gaul into Britain, by Aulus Plautius, a 
wise and valiant general of consular dignity, with orders to ac- 
quaint the emperor, if he met with great opposition, that he 
might come to his assistance. When the soldiers first under- 
stood the object of their destination, they expressed much re- 
luctance, and objected to making war beyond the limits of the 
world ; so little was Britain known : nor was it without diffi- 
culty that their general prevailed upon them to follow him. — 
Their army was finally embarked in three divisions, and landed 
without accident on the British island. 

No opposition appearing from any of the states on the sea- 
coast, Plautius marched his army up the country; and imme- 
diately the Dobuni (who are said to have declared they con- 
sidered none enemies but the Cattieuchlani) submitted them- 
selves, and were received under the Roman protection; and as 
a proof of their new masters' favour, Cogidunus their prince 
was not only confirmed in the government, but his territories 
extended. Thus early did this tribe further the views of the 
masters of the world, in contributing their assistance to en- 
slave their native country ; though it must be admitted with 
regard to themselves^ that they only exchanged one slavery for 
another 5 . 

The policy of the Romans, as much as the necessity of de- 
fending their friends against the attacks of the hostile nations, 
led the Propraetor to select and fortify permanent stations for 
his troops ; and it is likely some of these were chosen in or 
near the British towns, for the double purpose of preserving 
the property and securing the fidelity of the inhabitants K 

5 Henry's History of Britain, vol. i. p. 31. London, 1805. 

6 Carte supposes that, from the early submission of the Dobuni, and the 
immediate necessity of leaving a garrison to protect the country, this place 
was the first station in Britain occupied by the Romans, and thence denomi- 
nated Alchester. History of England, vol. i. p. 101, 



190 ALCHESTER, 

The presumption is therefore very fair, that such was the 
origin of Alchester, originally a British town belonging to the 
Dobuni, on the frontiers of the Cattieuchlani, and selected by 
Aulus Plautius as a convenient station, whereby he might be 
able to repel the incursions of that people, and pursue them 
with success as far as Buckingham, or the banks of the Ouse. 
This conjecture will be found more plausible on reflecting that 
the usual fortifications of a British town 7 would afford the 
Roman soldiers an immediate security against the assaults of 
an enemy in an unknown country : it also accounts for their 
choice of such a low situation, so contrary to their usual sta- 
tions, and agrees with the opinion of Kennett in ascribing its 
origin as a Roman fortress to Plautius 8 . 

The name of Alchester, by which the ruins of this station 
or city is known, was imposed by the Saxons — written in that 
language Galbceajten, and signifies an old town or Roman 
military work 9. 

The difficulty of fixing the precise situation of the stations 
mentioned in the Roman Itineraries, has produced many dis- 
putes among antiquaries who have endeavoured to ascertain 
these points : it is therefore no wonder that Alchester is not 
without its difficulties ;— -but the following may be regarded as 
the chief opinions advanced on the subject. 

I. Mr. Salmon attempts to prove from the Itinerary of An- 
toninus that this station was the Roman Isanavatia ; and the 
arguments which he adduces in support of this opinion are 
drawn from the different statements of the number of miles 
and stations between Lactodorum and Benonis, in the second 

7 What the Britons call a town is a tract of woody country surrounded by 
a mound and ditch, for the security of themselves and cattle against the incur- 
sions of their enemies. Caesar de Bell. Gall. 1. v. c. 21. There can be little 
doubt of the surrounding country answering this description at the time of the 
Roman invasion. 

8 Paroch. Antiq. p, 5. 9 Camden's Britannia. 



alchester: 19! 

and sixth journeys of Antoninus. This variation he considers 
impossible to be accounted for, unless it be allowed that there 
were two branches of the road, which passed through different 
stations and met at those points ; and this opinion, he says, is 
countenanced by the Iters themselves, one of which (Iter 2) 
only mentions the intermediate station of Bennavenna, and 
describes its distance from Lactodorum as twelve miles, and 
from thence to Benonis as seventeen, making the whole di- 
stance twenty-nine miles ; whereas the other (Iter 6) describes 
Isanavatia and Tripontium as intermediate, and makes the di- 
stance to be thirty- three miles. Hence, though he grants that 
there is no demonstration that Alchester was ever called Isana- 
vatia, yet its distance from Lactodorum nearly agreeing with 
the numbers of the itinerary, and the certainty of there having 
been a military way leading from that place into Oxfordshire 
pointing towards Alchester, has induced him to form the con- 
elusion, notwithstanding the objection of those who, content 
to travel in the old road, have agreed with Camden, making 
Isanavatia the same station as Bennavenna, though thereby 
they are obliged to expunge four miles from the Itinerary I0 . 

II. Dr. Stukeley considers this place as the "undoubted 
Alauna of Ravennas," _±nd that even the original name is pre- 
served in the neighbouring village of Launton ll . The Doctor 
adds, " whether the present name be Alcester as retaining 
any thing of the Latin, or Aldcester signifying the old city, I 
dispute not, but think it has no manner of relation to Allectus," 

10 Salmon's Survey of England. Oxfordshire, p. 449. 

11 Stukeley'sItinerariumCuriosum,vol. i. p. 41, London,1776. It is surprising 
that a writer so intelligent as Mr. Brewer should assert that "Dr. Stukeley 
warmly supports the notion of this place deriving its appellation from Allectus, 
and is desirous of finding an allusion to Carausius himself in the neighbouring 
district of Caversfield." (Beauties of Oxfordshire, p. 536.) Nothing is more in- 
correct : the fact is, Mr. Brewer found the above passage in Gough's Camden, 
and instantly transcribed it into his own manuscript, without once consulting 
Stukeley's opinion on the subject, 



192 ALCHESTER. 

—Richard of Cirencester 12 , Baxter, and Horsley I3 , seem to 
have agreed with Stukeley in considering this place as the 
Alauna of the Romans. 

III. The anonymous author of the History of Alchester 
supposes this place to derive its origin and appellation from 
Allectuswho slew the Emperor Carausius, in the neighbouring 
plains of Caversfield : and that having fixed on it as the chief 
seat of his government, he called it after his own name Allecti- 
Casirum, or the city of Allectus. Hence he supposes that the 
present name is only a corruption of the former, occasioned by 
the introduction of a strange language and the lapse of ages I4 . 

From the foregoing opinions it is evident that nothing decisive 
can be obtained on this subject. The conjectures of Salmon 
appear deserving of attention, as they are founded on the di- 
stances of the Itinerary ; yet it must be remarked that the 
site of most of the stations is still disputed ; and even ad- 
mitting Stoney- Stratford to stand on or near the spot of the 
ancient Lactodorum, the distance from thence to Alchester is 
much more than twelve miles, except they are allowed to be 
computed miles, and varied according to the custom of the 
country ; and even then it is difficult to account for the sub- 
sequent stations of Tripontium and Benonis. Stukeley *s 
opinion is sanctioned by such respectable names that it 
cannot fail of creating attention, especially when it is recol- 

14 Iter 18. From Eboracum, York, through the middle of the island to 
Clausentum. 

Benonnis, Cleycester, by High Cross, Northamptonshire. 
Tripojitium, Showel near Lutterworth, Leicestershire, 11. 
Isannaria, Toweester, Northamptonshire, 12. . 
Mlia castra, Aldcester near Biceter, 16. 

Durocina, Dorchester Episcopi, Durinam Stipendaria, Oxon, 15. 
Tamest, Stretley on Thames, by Goreing, Berks, 6. — Stukeley, vol. j. p. 137. 
*j Ravennas. Secunda pars Britanniae. Tamese, Dr. Gale supposes Kingston, 
Alauna, Aulcester. — Horsiey, p. 492. 

l *4 History of Alchester, printed at the end of Kennett's Antiquities. 



ALCHESTER, 193 

lected that Richard of Cirencester might have access to 
documents not now in existence. But it must be admitted, 
notwithstanding the above opinions, that the conjecture of 
the anonymous author has been generally treated with respect. 
Yet were it even possible to establish either of the former: still, 
if this place was any particular favourite of Allectus, its name 
might be changed by him to Allecti Casirum. It is how- 
ever no more than justice to add, that the latter conjecture 
is more ingenious than probable ; that it has no historical sup- 
port, and entirely rests on a presumed affinity of names. 

During the long period of the Roman power in Britain, the 
Dobuni appear to have remained in quiet subjection 15 ; a pre- 
sumptive proof of the paternal care of that government. 
Availing themselves of the opportunities of receiving instruc- 
tion, these provincials made rapid progress in civilization, and 
considerably improved in the arts and sciences. Their huts 
were succeeded by handsome and convenient habitations — 
their towns and cities formed into regular streets, and defended 
by strong fortifications. In these improvements we are war- 
ranted to conclude Alchester had its share, and without doubt 
had attained some consideration before the days of Allectus, 
A. D. 294. However, the anonymous writer is of a different 
opinion, and ascribes both the building and fortifying of the 
place to Caius Allectus, immediately on his rebellion against 
Carausius ; " that in case he should be put to the worst at the 
sea-side, either by his late master, or by Constantius who was 
coming to reduce Britain to the R,oman government, yet he 
might have where to reinforce himself in the main land;" for 
which purpose he is supposed to have previously secured a 

*5 Henry, vol. ii. p. 120. A. D. BO. Agricola endeavoured to civilize the 
Fritons by accustoming them to a more pleasant way of living: he exhorted 
them to build houses, temples. courts, and market-places; and wasso suect-s 
ful that in a short time every town and city abounded with them. 

O 



I£H v ALCHESTER. 

communication with the sea, through the towns of u Allsford, 
Allinton, and Allingham l6 ." 

The same writer says, (< In the forefront of Alichester Al- 
lectus built a sconce or watch-tower, the ruins of which still 
appear in a plot of meadow ground, where in our days (A. D. 
1620) hath been digged up much Roman money, brick, and 
tile, and pavement of curious and wrought tile, of about the 
bigness of sixpence, being delicately laid there. Before the 
tower was an inward hollow place," (perhaps a foss or ditch,) 
(e called a Tyslanicum I7 , in which a military engine called 
Rulla was kept, made broad-headed like a plough staff, and 
designed to beat off the enemy from the walls." This engine 
imparted its name to the tower. — " To guard his city and 
sconce without, and to break the incursions of horses, Allec- 
tus reared up a bank of earth some two or three miles in length 
on the south-west part of the city, that the enemy might not 
drawback wings upon him ; a good part whereof may still be 
seen in Wendlebury parish 18 ." 

Perhaps it is impossible to present a more accurate idea of 
the form and extent of the city than that which is suggested 
by the learned Dr. Stukeley, who explored the site with the 
utmost attention, and thus describes it : The city was fenced 
with a bank and ditch all round. It is a square of one thou- 
sand feet, each side standing on the four cardinal points , these 
sides are easily discernible at the corners, at each of which 
the country- people say stood a tower to defend it ; and that 
the brook also originally ran round it. The street that passed 
from north to south is still visible, as is the other that ran in 
the contrary direction, meeting the Akeman in its way from 



i6 History of Alchester, p. 686. 

l ? Kennett says, " What the writer means by Tyslanicum 1 apprehend not 
nor can I be informed." p. 7. l8 History of Alchester, p. 683, 684. 



ALCHESTER. 19 5 

Langford. Witliout doubt there were other streets; but they 
have not left sufficient vestiges to be distinguished. Great 
foundations are known to be in the meadows all around, espe- 
cially north and eastward, on both sides of the Akeman-street. 
On the west of the city, a little distance from the city ditch, 
is an artificial hill, called Castle Hill, full of Roman bricks, 
stones, and foundations. I attentively considered the place — 
the circuit is very plain and definable; it was a square of one hun- 
dred feet. I guess there has been originally some considerable 
building in the middle of an area or court, — whether a praeto- 
rium or temple might probably be ascertained by digging. 
The edge of the area is very distinct on the meadow, by the 
difference in the colour of the grass, the one of which is grey, the 
other green ; but the main body of the building did not reach 
so far, but lies in a great heap of rubbish, much elevated and 
of less extent. Before it, to the south, has been another area, 
paved with a bed of gravel, at least one hundred feet broad, 
and I doubt not but a curious person who would be at the ex- 
pense of digging this plot would find it well worth his while' 9 . 
In the spring of 1766 a very considerable opening was 
made into this mount by Mr. Penrose the proprietor of the 
meadow (perhaps in consequence of Stukeley's observations) ; 
and the following is a minute account of the discoveries made 
at that time. " The workmen began in the south-western part; 
and after digging through one foot and a half of old bricks and 
tiles, and through four feet of ashes mingled with human bones, 
came to a paved ground covered with fine gravel. Pursuing 
this for seven or eight yards, they reached the walls of the Prae- 
torium : these were standing about three feet in height. Going 



J 9 Stukeley's Itin. II. vol. i. p. 42. Strangers ma}- find the ruins in a mea- 
dow on the left-hand side of the high road leading from Bicester to Oxford ; 
and on the eastern bank of a small rivulet which crosses the high-way about 
haif a" mile from Wendlebury, and one mile and three quarters from Bicester. 
The city extended over the rising w 

" o2 



19^ ALCHESTER. 

along the outside of the wall about twenty or thirty feet to- 
wards the north-western angle, they came to an opening in it 
which appeared to be a door-way, and was about eight feet 
in breadth. At this opening they began to enter the building, 
and immediately discovered a Roman pavement, raised about 
four feet from the level of the meadow, and appearing to ex- 
tend through the whole compass of the building. This pave- 
ment consisted of tessellae about one inch and a half in the 
square, bearing different colours, neatly cemented together, 
and laid upon a bed of mortar. 

" Beneath and on one side of the discovered pavement was 
found a Roman hypocaust. It was a low room of one foot 
and a half in height, floored with small pieces of cemented 
brick, and supported with a great number of little pillars. 
These were two or three feet distant from each other, and had 
heaps of ashes between them." 

The same writer says, i( The site of the castrum is a very 
damp triangular meadow, bounded by a curving brook on the 
west and south: the mount rises about eight feet in height, 
nearly covers half an acre of ground, and seems originally to 
have been surrounded by a slight ditch. 

" The station and town of JElia- Castra was placed upon a 
very disadvantageous site, — a low ground, and a damp soil. 
The site of the city has been considerably raised by the foun- 
dations beneath, and the adscititious earth above. This ap- 
pears sufficiently evident from the level of the meadows around 
it, particularly of the neighbouring station. They are all 
above one yard and a half lower in the level than the other. 
The site of the city, damp as it is at present, must have been 
much damper formerly, and nearly as much so as any of the 
swampy meadows in its neighbourhood 20 ." 

The closest investigation at the present day can add little to 
the foregoing accounts. With copies of the engravings illus- 

20 Whitaker's Manchester, vol. i. p. 60. 



ALCHESTER. 197 

trating Stukeley's Description of Aldchester in his hand, the 
present writer carefully examined every spot mentioned (in 
the month of June 1S14); and, as far as he had the means of 
ascertaining, found the 'statements generally correct. The 
land had been lately inclosed, and the divisions occasioned 
by the planting of new hedges had rendered the appearance 
of the streets much less conspicuous than formerly. They are, 
however, still discernible by the elevation of the ground. That 
which led from north to south may be traced by a hedge 
planted on its western side. The street which crossed it about 
the centre of the city, and ran from east to west, may be known 
by its elevated site, and the circumstance of a new hedge on 
the south side. The ditch in front of the hedge is cut through 
the foundations of several brick edifices, but whether they 
formed parts of small streets cannot be ascertained. The 
wall on the eastern side of the city passed through the mid- 
dle of this field : the site is quite evident by the change in the 
colour of the soil ; that without the walls being of a reddish 
cast, while that within is extremely rich and black, probably 
from the nitrous particles and animal salts lodged in it. Part 
of the foundation of this wall may be seen in the ditch be- 
fore mentioned, which is cut through the angle of some build- 
ing projecting beyond it. These foundations, from their age 
and exposure to the weather, are become quite rotten, though 
in many other parts single bricks may be found as sound and 
perfect as when first made. The earth abounds with broken 
pieces of pots and vessels formed of various sorts of coloured 
earth, red, green, and blue, as when viewed by Dr. Stukelev; 
nor is it unfrequent for the plough to draw up large bricks 
and stones, though the spot has formed part of Wendlebury 
common field for centuries. Great numbers of coins are still 
found 2I , known in the neighbourhood by the name of Al- 

s 1 Many of the inhabitants In this neighbourhood have at different oeriods 



*9 8 ALCHESTER. 

Chester pennies ;" the inscription on many is very legible. 
The mount presents a considerable elevation, and perhaps for 
many years to come will afford the inquisitive stranger the 
best means of ascertaining the spot once distinguished by the 
abode of Roman power and magnificence. 

The author of the History of Alchester says, " In the midst 
of that ploughed field, Alchester, one Fynmore a husband- 
man of Wendlebury, ploughing very deep, lighted upon a 
rough round stone, which being digged out was found to be 
hoilowed within, and seamed and cemented together ; and 
being opened there was nothing found therein but a green 
glass of some three quarts, full of ashes close stopped up, with 
lead over the mouth, which warrant it to be the urna or burnt 
ashes of some great man." This person the author supposes 
to have been Carausius, i( slain hard by." At the time of 
Stukeley's visiting Alchester, this stone was used as a pig- 
trough at Wendlebury, and, as he says, " had remained so 
ever since Dr. Plot's time." The cavity he describes as 
one foot in diameter and nine inches deep. It was after- 
wards placed in the garden wall of the rectory ; but, having 
been removed some years ago, is now lost, though some of the 
present inhabitants perfectly remember it". 

obtained considerable numbers of these coins. Mr. Bond, sometime rector of 
Wendlebury, was furnished by his parishioners with great numbers. Kennett 
himself says he had nearly one hundred ; but the largest collection ever made 
was by Mr. Lee, once proprietor of Bignal-farm: perhaps the best collection 
at present is in the hands of Mr. Howse, the landlord of a small inn at Wen- 
dlebury. 

83 The same writer says, " A piece of the mouth of the glass was sent me 
this year, 1622," together " with a piece of brass money found in Alchester, 
bearing the name and stamp of Dominican. Aug. Germa." — In another place 
he says, " George Maund of Chesterton,' gentleman, brought me a piece of 
money there found bearing the picture and name of Constantine, who was 
second from Allectus j on the right side whereof was this inscription, Con- 
stantinus Augustus, and on the other side the portraiture of a castle, hav- 
ing the sun and stars in chief above it, and having some word on the coin by 



ALCHESTER. 199 

As the situation of the city was low, probably it was sur- 
rounded with considerable ditches, which at once secured it 
from inundations and the assaults of an enemy. Dr. Stukeley 
says, " It deserves to be called urbs prcetensis, and may be 
supposed rather a city of pleasure than strength." It is evi- 
dent from the extent of the walls that it was not large ; un- 
less we suppose that an unfortified suburb surrounded it : and 
this supposition may receive some countenance from the 
Doctor's assertion of " the adjoining meadows still remain- 
ing full of foundations 2? ." But after all, it is much safer to 
receive no further idea of its extent and importance than the 
definable site will warrant. 

The Akeman-street, the principal vicinal way in this county, 
passed close by the north side of this city; and, together with 
the other roads, afforded a free communication with every part 
of the country. These roads, the work of the Roman legions 
in times of peace, present to the admiration of succeeding 
ages a matchless proof of their strength of discipline and their 
habits of industry. The Akeman-street appears to have been 
constructed in different parts of the country, either with or 
without a raised bank, as the nature of the soil demanded. Its 
progress is described by Kennett as follows : — " Coming down 
the hill from Tuchwic-ground, it passes along the common 
road from Aylesbury, over the vale which gives name to the 
village of Mersh, leaving some traces of a stony ridge, visible 
and useful. Crossing the rivulet at Steanford 24 , or Worden- 
pool, it enters Oxfordshire by Ambrosden, then ascending 
Blackthorn-hill ran in the present Bicester road, till in 



the side of the castle,— to my judgement it was Gallitas ; it is at this day the 
arms of the castle of Wallingford. V. 695. Kennett supposes the latter in- 
scription was written GALL. . . .ITAS, for Gallena Civitas, the city of Wal- 
lingford. p. 12. 

"3 Itin. vol. i. p. 41. 

** So called from the passage being pitched or paved with stones. 



200 ALCHESTER. 

Wrechwic 25 -green (which was formerly the common field in 
that manor) it turns to the left-hand, and proceeds by the 
north side of Graven-hill wood, in the way leading to Lang- 
fordj bearing close to the north -side of Alchester, and from 
thence proceeds to Chesterton and Kirklington town's- end ; 
passing the river Charwell near Tackley, and thence in a 
straight line till it enters Blenheim-park, which it quits in a 
direction for the village of Stunsfield, on a raised bank. Here 
altering its form, though still (even traditionally) retaining its 
name, it goes over the river Evenlode, and passes near Wilcot 
and Ramsden ; then to Astally, over Astwel-bridge, and 
through the fields to Broadwell-grove, where it is scarce visi- 
ble. Passing Broadwell-grove the outlines are more bold and 
perfect, and the road proceeds in a straight line into Glou- 
cestershire, and thence towards Bath, the old Akemancestre." 
He proceeds : u The city of Alchester having had for a 
long time a fixed garrison of Roman forces occasioned other 
roads to be formed for a convenient communication with other 
stations." Of these the most apparent leads over Otmore, 
which has been (as observed by Plot) evidently paved ; and 
points towards Calleva or Wallingford : hence the country- 
people succeeded in persuading Camden that this road was 
the original Akeman-street. Another branch may be traced 
" declining from the Akeman-street at Chesterton, and pass- 
ing through Middleton Stoney, (where there is a large barrow, 
probably a tumulus or sepulchre for the dead,) whence falling 
into Wattle-bank or Avesditch, this road might lead to 
Banbury. Another of these streets left the Akeman-street on 
the east side of the brook; then passing through Langford- 
ground, cutting the lane which leads to Bicester on the south 
side of Candle-meadow 26 , thence passed through the lower 

45 Anciently written Wrechroych. 

26 A meadow so named from its being charged with furnishing a candle or 
lamp for one of the altars in the conventual church in Bicester. 



ALCHFSTER. 201 

end of DunkinVground a7 (where upon the late digging of a 
pond has appeared the plainest evidence of a paved way), and 
continued its course through Lanton, went on to Stratton 28 , 
and from thence to Buckingham, till it reached the old Lac- 
todorum, or Stoney Stratford." 

Such appear to be the best accounts which at this distance 
of time can be collected relative to the station of Alchester, 
and the different roads by which it was approached. Were it 
required to affix the period in which it is probable that the 
city attained its greatest prosperity, it would be proper to se- 
lect that which intervened between the reign of Carausius, 
A. D. 284, and Constantine the Great, A. D. 337. At that 
time historians represent the British province abounding in 
cities and towns, possessed of elegance, wealth, and power. 
The loss of its revenues and the boldness of its fleets, while se- 
parated from the empire by the rebellion of Carausius and Al- 
lectus, might induce the Romans to magnify its importance; 
but the circumstance of its monarch being able to defy the 
whole power of the emperors, proves that those representa- 
tions are not unworthy of credit. 

In the long period of tranquillity which followed the sup- 
pression of that rebellion, the castles, forts, and walls which 
Had been erected for the defence of the British province, were 
so much decayed that they afforded little defence against the 
inroads of the Scots, Picts, and Saxons, who penetrated into 
the interior in the reign of Valentinian, A. D. 364. Various 
generals having failed in expelling these invaders, Theodosius 
was appointed commander ; and his success and subsequent 
policy attest the wisdom of the appointment. Hearne sup- 



3 ? Formerly this ground w^s a part of the possessions belonging to the an- 
cestors of the writer, who for many ages had a considerable estate in the neigh- 
bouring village of Merton, and lie buried in that church. 

* 8 Stratton is so called from being placed on a Roman street. Kenn. p. 18. 



202 ALCHESTER. 

poses that "he garrisoned Alchester, A. D. 367, then a large 
and well-fortified city, with a considerable number of well- 
disciplined men. That he also set guards upon the frontiers, 
ordered divers watches on the highways, and fixed small 
garrisons or camps at Stunsfield, Round Castle near Bladon, 
and at Coombe." In another place the same author asserts 
that Alchester was occasionally honoured with the presence of 
Theodosius during the time he governed Britain, and that a 
subordinate officer had a hall or palace erected at Stunsfield. 
These observations arose from a tessellated pavement having 
then been lately discovered at that place 29 . 

The opinion of Hearne was afterwards controverted by a 
Mr. Pointer, in a pamphlet in which he maintained that Al- 
chester never was the station of Theodosius, but of the diffe- 
rent generals who commanded in these parts subsequent to 
the defeat and death of Allectus. He also ascribes the Stuns- 
field pavement to a general of the latter 3 °. 

However there may be a disposition to regard the period of 
the Roman power with complacency, their maxims of policy 
and government were not ultimately beneficial to the pro- 
vinces. Professedly a military government, their first object was 
to deprive the inhabitants of their arms, and commit the de- 
fence of the province to the valour of the legions. The num- 
bers of the latter were daily recruited from among the flower 
of the youth, who when once enrolled were taught to con- 
sider the camp as their home, and their only hope of ad- 
vancement to rest on implicit submission to the will of their 
commanders, and a strict attention to military discipline. 
Hereby they became alienated from the peculiar interests of 

*9 Hearne on the Stunsfield Pavement, published with Leland's Itin. vol. viii. 

30 Pointer's Account of the Stunsfield Pavement, Oxon. 1713. — From these 
writers it appears that the coins fonnd at Alchester have chiefly been those of 
Claudius, Probus, Allectus, and Diocletian. 



ALCHESTER. 203 

their country, and desirous only of supporting the government. 
The arts of luxury also which were introduced among the 
provincials, tended to depress and enervate ; and the daily ex- 
hibition of strangers raised to the highest honours and offices 
in the state, while they were studiously depressed, introduced 
a carelessness of the welfare of their country, and a desire of 
personal gratification only. So that when the irruption of the 
barbarians rendered it necessary for the Romans to recall the 
distant legions, without spirit to defend their possessions the 
provincials became the prey of the first daring invader. 

The period of the Roman government in Britain, from the 
invasion of Aulus Plautius (A. D. 43) to their final departure 
in the reign of Honorius (A. D. 420), comprises the space of 
three hundred and seventy-seven years, during which Alches- 
ter attained and preserved some degree of consideration. That 
day now, however, fast approached which would reduce it to 
its primitive insignificance : — To mention the circumstances 
connected herewith, as far as our scanty materials will admit, 
is all that remains. 

The immense hordes of barbarians which assailed the em- 
pire on every side, together with the perpetual calls of the go- 
vernment for new levies of troops, which were immediately 
destroyed, announced to the unhappy provincials the speedy 
destruction of the Roman power. But in no part of that 
vast state were these portentous appearances regarded with 
greater terror, or their effects more speedily felt, than in 
Britain. The inhabitants beheld the retiring legions with dis- 
may and despair ; and before they had finally abandoned the 
island, trade had ceased, and every mechanical pursuit was 
given up ; so that in a few years the necessary art of ma- 
sonry had so much decayed, that the Britons were unable to 
rebuild the broken wall of Severus, or repair their decaying 
cities, without Roman skill and assistance. 

When the mistaken policy of the Britons invited the Saxons 



204 ALCH ESTER. 

to assist them in repelling the incursions of the Scots and 
Piets, and these allies afterwards treacherously sought to 
seize upon the country, the British cities afforded their in- 
habitants some security against the first attacks of the enemy, 
and allowed them time to recover from the surprise occasioned 
by this perfidy. Perceiving that the successive multitudes 
which continually reinforced the Saxons could aim at nothing 
less than the entire conquest of the country, they nobly re- 
solved to defend it, or perish in the attempt. Committing 
their cause to the sword, they engaged in several desperate 
conflicts, and the prosperous or adverse state of the war daily 
added discipline and experience to their valour. 

For nearly one hundred years the Britons, under various 
leaders, maintained a vigorous struggle against the numerous 
hosts of Saxons who assailed them on every side. The Bri- 
tish fortresses for a long time retarded their progress; and the 
natives perceiving their desperate situation, took every local 
advantage of hill, forest, and morass. Success at first was 
extremely doubtful : the brave Ambrosius (A. D. 490) per- 
formed prodigies of valour, and long sustained the fortunes of 
his country. His courage was only equalled by his perseve- 
rance; and from his assumption of the command to the battle 
which terminated his life (A. D. 508) his exertions were 
crowned with success. To encourage the Britons, he visited 
every part of the country liable to the attacks of the enemy, 
and animated their resistance by his eloquence and example. 
In these military excursions it is probable that Alchester was 
not neglected, and Kennett supposes the encampment of his 
army on the rising ground of Ambrosden is still preserved in 
the name of that village. 

A. D. 516. The renowned King Arthur served under this 
prince, and succeeded to his honours and dangers. In twelve 
successive battles the discomfited Saxons felt the severity of 
British vengeance ; but their final success attests that they 



ALCHESTER. 205 

gradually gained ground. Cerdic laid the foundation of the 
West Saxon kingdom ; Oxfordshire and the adjacent counties 
were occupied by the Angles (A, D. 560), not however until 
the country was entirely desolated, and the cities and fortresses 
destroyed. The few Britons who remained were reduced to 
abject slavery ; and desolation and barbarism spread itself over 
the face of a land lately highly cultivated and polished. 

Historians represent in strong colours the various cruelties 
exercised by Pagan Saxons on British Christians. Their priests 
are described as slain before the altars ; their bishops as driven 
from their flocks j and their churches as entirely demolished. 
The whole mass of the original inhabitants is said to have 
been exterminated, and their language eradicated : indeed, 
the whole country was so much depopulated and desolate, that 
a few years after the Saxons were settled it bore the appear- 
ance of one newly discovered and colonized, so much had 
these thrown every thing into a state of uncultivated nature * ' . 

The ruins of some of the strongest edifices in Alchester re- 
mained until after the" settlement of the West Saxcn kingdom, 
when these were demolished by Eirinus the Bishop of Dor- 
chester, and the materials used to build and fortify a town 
near its site, on the frontiers of the kingdom, which was 
named, after its founder, Burin ceastre. Time has gradually 
softened its name and improved its buildings, but Bicester 
must ascribe its origin to the strong and massive walls of the 
Roman city 32 . 

What scattered fragments remained were used by succeed- 
ing ages as a quarry to furnish bricks and stones for the con- 
struction of their wretched huts and villages. Wendlebury, 
Chesterton, and the neighbouring hamlets, all conspired to 
blot out its existence from the earth. The lapse of ages 

3 l Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, vol. vi. p. 323-337, 
18mo, London 1807. Henry's Britain, vol, i. p. 125-135. Id. vol. ii. p. 314, 
W Kennett, p. 28, 



206 ALCHESTER. 

silently crumbled its scattered masses to atoms, the inundations 
of the adjacent stream washed away its banks and filled up its 
ditches, and the efforts of husbandry eradicated all traces 
of its streets ; thus leaving the memory of its former state to 
be preserved by the tradition of a strange people, entirely 
ignorant of Roman greatness, and perfectly careless of Roman 
arts. 

The uncertainty that must attend all conjectures respecting 
the population of a British Roman city, as well as the nature 
of its edifices, public and private, has induced the writer to 
pass over the subject 33 . It ought however to be remarked, 
that as two British churches are mentioned in Oxfordshire 34 , 
previous to the invasion of the Saxons, the small number of sta- 
tions in that county might render it probable that one of them 
was built in Alchester. — But on this subject further informa- 
tion cannot be obtained. — No event of sufficient importance 
occurred in this part of the country to introduce the semi- 
barbarous historians of a strange language and distant sera to 
the knowledge of Alchester. All the Roman monuments of 
learning of a local nature perished in the general ruin ; or, if 
any manuscript survived till learning shed a dim ray on the 
gloom of the Saxon monasteries, the lazy monk suffered them 
to decay untranscribed. 

M Those who wish to obtain a description of a British Roman city may 
consult Dr. Henry, who has collected most of the descriptions given by the 
Roman writers on that subject, vol. ii. p. 118 to 123. 

34 When Augustine came into the county of Oxford, to a village called 
Cumpton, i. e. Long Cumpton, Warwickshire, at the edge of the county, the 
parish priest waited upon him, and complained of the lord of the manor re- 
fusing to pay his tithes, upon which Augustine reproved him, and convinced 
him by a miracle of a dead body raised from the grave; who confessed him- 
self to have been patron of the church in the time of the Britons, and to have 
been excommunicated for the like default above one hundred and fifty years 
before. — Kenn. quot. Brompton, p. 1%. 



ALCHESTER. 207 



HISTORY OF CARAUSIUS AND ALLECTUS. 

The neighbourhood and city of Alchester having been sup- 
posed to bear some relation to Carausius and Allectus, a short 
account of these distinguished individuals is subjoined, though 
it ought to be recollected that there is no authentic history 
which identifies any of their transactions with these places. 

The birth of Carausius is doubtful. Dr. Stukeley asserts that 
he was born at St. David's, and descended of the old British 
blood royal : while Gibbon declares he was a Menapian of the 
meanest origin. It is agreed that he was a brave man, and 
rose by his merit ; that he had served in Britain and Gaul, 
and was afterwards raised to the important station of Count 
of the Saxon shore, the duty of which was to guard the sea- 
coasts from the descent of the northern pirates. 

Gibbon states that the integrity of the new admiral was im- 
mediately warped by his interest ; that he suffered the pirates 
to commit their depredations, and then intercepting them 
on their return, obliged them to resign a part of their spoil, 
which he appropriated to his own use. That these circum- 
stances coming to the knowledge of the Emperor Maximian, 
orders were issued to put him to death; but that the execution 
of them was eluded by his liberality to the fleet and armies 
which he commanded; and that these supported the pro- 
vinces in the revolt, and saluted him emperor. But a more 
plausible and favourable account of the conduct of this hero 
is given by Dr. Stukeley : — according to him, the jealousy 
of Maximian was excited by the reputation of Carausius, 
after he had defeated the Burgundians and Alemains; and 
secret orders being issued for his destruction, no other 
means of escape offered than assuming the purple, in which 
he was supported by the fleet and the Britons : and after 
Maximian had tempted the fidelity of his troops, and hazarded 



208 ALCHESTER. 

an engagement on the sea, that emperor deemed it prudent 
to respect his claim, and acknowledge him as a colleague, on 
condition of his continuing to defend the sea- coasts. 

The reign of Carausius is generally represented as benefi- 
cial to Britain. He secured the friendship of the Picts and 
Scots, repaired the foss dyke, founded Granta, now Cam- 
bridge, and projected many public works. But Diocletian 
having refused to ratify the treaty which Carausius concluded 
with Maximian, and on the great festival of Mars (March 1) 
appointed Constantius Chloris Caesar and governor of Britain, 
the honours of Carausius became insecure, and he was obliged 
to prepare for war. 

The friendship of the Franks enabled Carausius to baffle 
the whole power of the empiie, and for seven years his fleets 
rode triumphant from the Pillars of Hercules to the northern 
sea. Yet he must feel a secret dismay at the hourly accounts 
which he received of the preparations of Constantius. The 
stupendous mole which occasioned the fall of Boulogne, and 
threw a part of his fleet into the enemy's hand, while it mate- 
rially increased his danger, showed the perseverance and abi- 
lity of his foe. However, his courage did not forsake him : he 
applied himself with great diligence to prepare every thing 
necessary to resist the threatened invasion. But while thus 
engaged at York, he fell a sacrifice to the treachery of Allec- 
tus, one of his chief officers and confidents, who immediately 
assumed the government and the purple. 

The abilities of Allectus were unequal to the difficulties of 
his station ; yet the three years which intervened between the 
death of Carausius and the descent of Constantius were dili- 
gently employed in fortifying the cities and securing the coasts. 
The preparations being at length finished, Constantius divided 
his forces into two parts, which he purposed to land at oppo- 
site points of the coast, that the attention of Allectus might 
be distracted. The command of one of the squadrons was 



ALCHESTER. 209 

given to the Prefect Asclepiodotus, and the other reserved for 
himself. The former, setting sail, passed the fleet of Allec- 
tus near the Isle of Wight, by favour of a thick fog ; and land- 
ing on the coast of Britain without opposition, immediately 
burned his ships, that his troops might have no hope of safety 
but in victory. No sooner was the intelligence communi- 
cated to Allectus, who had posted himself near London, than 
he hastened to meet and give him battle. This forced march, 
however, had so fatigued and dispirited his soldiers, that they 
were speedily overcome, and Allectus himself slain. Desti- 
tute of a leader, the province immediately returned to the obe- 
dience of the Romans, and Co^.stantius was received with 
pleasure and surprised with acclamations. 

Such appears to be the genuine and authentic history of 
Carausius and Allectus; but it is varied by the anonymous 
author of the History of Alchester in the following way. 

It is said that Allectus, being envious of his master's ho- 
nours, determined upon a revolt ; and, having collected his par- 
tisans, built and fortified Alchester as an inland town, te that 
he might have where to reinforce himself in the main land." 
That Carausius, being desirous of crushing one enemy ere 
another landed, marched an army into this neighbourhood, 
and formed an entrenched camp on Bayard's- Green. That 
the armies soon after met, and a desperate battle ensued, on 
a plain about two miles from Alchester, in which Carausius 
was slain, and the place obtained the name of Caraus-field or 
Caversfield. That immediately after the battle, Allectus as- 
sumed the purple, and proceeded carefully to fortify the cities, 
and place the country in the best state of defence against 
Constantius, who was preparing to invade it. That among 
the inland fortresses Alchester occupied his utmost attention, 
and was frequently honoured by his presence and court ; but 
that much of its consideration was lost after he was slain bv 

p 



210 ALCHESTER. 

Asclepiodotus at the fatal battle of Elsfield, which closed the 
independence of the British province. 

Both these statements are submitted to the judgement of 
the reader. The writer of the anonymous History of Alches^ 
ter was evidently a man of learning, and the History itself is 
the best specimen of his talents. Some credit is certainly 
due to the ingenuity which so plausibly adapted the names 
and events to these obscure places : but the attention which 
his story has gained among succeeding writers may serve to 
caution future antiquaries against being led away by a co= 
incidence of names. 



APPENDIX. 



P 2 



APPENDIX. 

No. I. 

Life of Rosamo7id Clifford. 

William Longspe, the grandson of the fair and unfortunate 
Rosamond Clifford, having obtained possession of the Manor 
of Bicester, together with the circumstance of this neighbourhood 
having been immediately connected with her eventful story, ren- 
ders some account of her life particularly interesting. 

This lady was the daughter of Walter Lord Clifford, who in con- 
formity with the practice of that age placed her as a boarder in God- 
stow nunnery, for the purposes of education. According to ancient 
writers, the females resident in that religious house were allowed 
considerable indulgence : they were even permitted to spend 
one day in the year at Godstow fair, and occasionally to visit Med- 
ley and Binsey. It is supposed that Henry first saw Rosamond 
when she was about fifteen years of age (A. D. 1149), and the 
prince himself very young. Now if this account of the discipline 
of the nunnery be correct, opportunities of overture were abun- 
dant : nor is it improbable that Henry softened the fall of his 
victim by promises of honourable retribution : — but the love-pro- 
mises of a prince depend for performance on political expediency. 
The repudiated Queen of France, Eleanor of Guienne, held a 
sceptre in her hand ; and the pretensions of ensnared beauty and 
subdued innocence weighed trivially on the opposite side. 

As the circumstances attending their connexion were either 
treated with indifference or studiously thrown into shade by the 
writers of that aera, an impenetrable doubt involves the whole affair. 
But according to the best accounts it appears, that, after Henry had 
succeeded in seducing Rosamond, he constructed for her recep- 
tion a bower or retired dwelling at a short distance from Wood- 



214 APPENDIX. 

stock palace. This building is described by Chaucer (who is sup- 
posed to draw the scenery of his poem entitled " The Dream" from 
that park) as a white castle seated on an eminence and adorned 
with naples. Jt is probable that the adjoining gardens consisted of 
the topiary work so usual with the fanciful gardeners of that period : 
and perhaps the remains of these twisted and unnatural alleys, 
together with Henry's amour, gave rise to those tales which have 
passed from father to son, or rather from mother to daughter, 
touching a bower erected by King Henry for the reception of Fair 
Rosamond, round which he constructed a labyrinth so artfully 
contrived that no stranger could possibly untread its mazes. 
That here Rosamond was concealed from the jealous Queen, till 
in a luckless hour that dreaded personage discovered the beauty 
at the outward door of the labyrinth. Rosamond fled ; but in her 
haste dropped a ball of silk, a part of which adhering to her foot 
or garment acted as a clue. The Queen penetrated the recess - y 
and, though at first struck by her beauty into amazement, com- 
pelled her to swallow poison. 

Such is the legendary account. But none of the ancient writers 
countenance the story j and there is no ground whatever for be- 
lieving that Rosamond died out of the ordinary course of nature. 
Brewer is of opinion that she renounced all intercourse with Henry 
soon after the arrival of Queen Eleanor in England, and retired 
to the nunnery in which her happiest days had passed, and lived 
there in penitence and seclusion several years. — This however is 
directly contradicted by Brompton and Knyghton, both of whom 
say that she died soon after the splendid apartment was built for her 
reception at Woodstock \ 

1 Decern Scriptores, p. 1131. p. "2395. — In the Gent. Mag. is the following 
extract, published from a book written in the fourteenth century : " It bifei 
that she (Rosamond) died and was buried whyle the Kynge wat absent. When 
he came agen he wolde se the body in the grave. And whanne the grave was 
openned there sate an orrible tode on her brest bytwene her teetys, and a foul 
adder begirt hir body about bir midle, and shestanke so that the Kynge ne none 
other might stand to se the orrible sight. ThannetheKynge dyde shette agen 
the grave, and dyde wry te theese two veersis upon y e grave: Hie jacet is 
tomba, &c.» Vol. 5 i, p. 970. 



APPENDIX. 215 

Rosamond bad two sons by that monarch, William Longspe, 
or Longsword (so called from the sword he usually wore), after- 
wards married to Ela daughter and heir of the Earl of Salisbury j 
and GeofFery Plantagenet, elected Bishop of Lincoln and after- 
wards Archbishop of York. 

The body of Rosamond was interred by her parents before the 
high altar at Godstow, and round a costly monument were lights 
directed to be kept continually burning $ but in 119] they were 
removed by order of Hugh Bishop of Lincoln, and her body 
buried in the Nuns' Chapter-house. At the Reformation her bones 
were again disturbed and her tomb destroyed, which is said to have 
had on it interchangeable weavings, decked with red and green 
roses, and the picture of the cup out of which she drank the poi- 
son. This cup, however, Gough conjectures to have been a cha- 
lice, often found on the coffin-lids of ecclesiastics' 2 , When a boy 
I accompanied my father to Godstow to view a large stone coffin, 
said to have been Rosamond's, but apparently designed for two 
bodies, as it was divided by a ridge of stone running from head to 
foot. This was afterwards engraved from a drawing by Grose, and 
inserted in the Gentleman's Magazine for Nov. 1791. 



No. II. 

An account of the Tenants, Rents, and Services with- 
in the Manor of Berencester. 1325. 18, 19, Ed- 
ward IL 

(translation ) 

Berncester. — Persons holding hereditarily by free tenure. 
John le Veche and Agnes his wife hold one messuage and its 
curtilage, which is between the land formerly of Emma Eartlett 
and the land of John le Bakere. They also hold one acre of land ; 
whereof one half acre lies under Buchamwey, between the land of 
Hugh Eylot and the land of William Hamond - } and the other half 
acre lies in the land which is called Grascroft-furlong, and extends 

* Oxfordshire : Beauties of England and Wales* 



21 6 APPENDIX. 

towards Cesterton between the land of Walter de Langleye and the 
landof William Hamond j and pay rent per annum one halfpenny,at 
Easter ; which messuage and its curtilage and land the said John 
and Agnes have by the demise of Nicholas le Rede and Anne his 
wife, by their deed, paying rent for the same to the chief lord one 
halfpenny as aforesaid. And they hold by form of the statute, as 
in the court held at Berencester on Tuesday next after the feast 
of Saint Bionysius, in the ninth year of the reign of King Edward 
son of King Edward, is more fully contained j on which day the 
said John performed fealty. The said John also holds one messuage 
and a half yard land by homage and fealty, which Hugh atte Ford 
Chaplain formerly held, and which the said Hugh had by the gift 
of Margery atte Ford his mother, who held in capite the said 
land of the lady, paying rent per annum 2s. 6d. at four times of the 
year j to wit, at the feasts of St. Michael, of the Nativity of our 
Lord, of the Annunciation of the Blessed Mary, and of the Na- 
tivity of St. John the Baptist, by equal portions. 

Geoffrey de Langleye, son of the Lord John de Langleye lord 
of Bigenhull, holds one messuage and one yard land with a meadow 
in Berencester, which is called le Palmerslondj to wit, that messuage 
and that yard land with the meadow in Berencester, and pays rent 
for the same per annum 6s. at the times aforesaid ; which messuage 
and yard land, with the meadow, lie in the field according to the 
following description ; to wit, one acre lies near the Canons' wall, 
between the land of John the Baker and the land of Nicholas le 
Grey ; and one acre above the Hulle, between the land of the 
Prioress and the land of Thomas son of William. Also two acres 
above Longelond near the Wodewey, between the land formerly 
of the Lord John de Langleye and the Wodewey. Also three 
acres and a half at the Fish-pond, near the land of Nicholas le 
Grey. Also two acres and a half above the Croftland, between the 
land of the said Nicholas and the land of the Prioress and the 
land of Robert Eylot. Also one acre at the Mulnewey, near the land 
of the aforesaid Nicholas and of the widow Alice. Also one acre at 
the Wowelond, near the land of John de la Ford and the land of 
John sonof Walter. Also one acre lying between the landof Alice 
Heirhiches and the land of Thomas son of William. Also one acre 



APPENDIX. 2\? 

in Bodeiliore, near the land of the Prioress. Also three acres above 
Hesneford, between the land of Nicholas le Grey and the land of 
Simon le Frend. Also three acres at Fishthorne, between the land 
of the widow Alice and the land of Walter CaveL Also one acre 
above Crockwellforlonge between the land of Nicholas le Grey 
and the land of Ralph, at iheupperend of the village. Also two acres 
above Eldeforde, between the land of Nicholas le Grey and the 
land of Nicholas Germayn. Also three acres above Hynacre, be- 
tween the land of the Prioress and the land of Walter Cavel. Also 
three acres above Imbelowe, between the land of Nicholas le Grey 
and Kyngesmere. Also one acre above Haggethorn, near the land of 
Nicholas le Grey. Also one acre above Pudwellforlong, between 
the land of the Prioress and the land of the aforesaid Nicholas. 

The meadow belonging to the aforesaid yard land lies par- 
ticularly as follows : to wit, Two acres and a half above Rowelowe, 
between the land of the Prior of Berencester and the land of 
Nicholas le Grey. Also one acre (Henedacre) lies in Kynsedeham. 
Also three acres at the Whitheyes, between Helenesmedeand the 
land of the Lady Prioress. The Prior of Berencester holds two 
acres of land of the aforesaid yard land, which he had in exchange 
(habuit in escambio) of Walter de Langleye ; and they lie to- 
gether at Eldeford in the North Field, between the land of Nicho- 
las Germayn aud the land of Nicholas de Saford. 

John son of Thomas Abbod holds by a certain indented writing 
made to Thomas Abbod and the heirs of his body, in the name of 
Agnes formerly Prioress, and of her Convent, one messuage with 
its curtilage, where he dwells, which is situated between the messu- 
age which Robert le Webbe formerly held, and the gable of the 
capital messuage which H. the Smith formerly held; and pays rent 
per annum I2d. and suit of court. The said John holds another 
messuage with its curtilage, where he dwells, by a certain indented 
writing made in the name of Isabella formerly Prioress, and of her 
Convent, to Thomas Abbod and the heirs of his body, which is situ- 
ated between the messuage which Henry the Smith formerly held 
and the great gate of the Lady Prioress, and pays rent for the same 
per annum, at the end of the year, 35. 6d. and suit of court. The 
lame John holds one piece of ground opposite to the ground be- 



218 APPENDIX. 

longing to his messuage, at the end of the cow-house of the Ladf 
Prioress, where there used to be ingress and egress to the croft of 
the Prioress from her manor $ and pays rent for the same, at the feast 
of St. Michael, 2d. And holds without a deed, under the name of 
Matilda and her Convent, and the heirs of the body of the said John 
lawfully begotten, one messuage with the ground pertaining there- 
to, which formerly Roger le Mayne held near the messuage of the 
Lord of Bigenhull, which he holds of the Prioress. They hold 
also by the same writing ten acres of land of the said Prioress in 
the Field of Eerencester ; whereof two acres lie at Eldeford, be- 
tween the land of the Prior of Berencesler and the land of Nicho- 
las de Saford ; and one acre and a half and one rood lie above 
Morforlong, between the land of Gilbert de Stratton and the land 
of Nicholas le May; and one rood lies at Levenchesdich, between 
the land of the Lord of Bigenhull and the land of John Mich ; and 
two acres and a half lie above Lysthynacre, of which half an acre 
lies between the land of the Earl of Lyncoln and the land of 
Hamond. . . . ; and one acre lies between the land of the said Ha- 
mond and the land of John atte Ford ; and one acre lies between 
the land of John Cavel ; and one acre called Cuttacre lies above 
Mangethorn, between the land of John Pines and the land of Agnes 
le Blake, and half an acre lies near Buehamwey, between the land 
of John atte Ford *nd the land of John Mich ; and half an acre lies 
there between the land of William Cavel and the land of Robert 
Michel 5 and half an acre lies there between the land of John Knight 
and William Cavel - } and one acre lies above Goldforlong, between 
the land of the Lord of Bigenhull and the land of Robert Michel, 
and he pays rent per annum, at four times, 10$. 6d. 

Robert son of John le Smith holds one messuage near the courJ 
of the Lady Prioress j and pays rent for the same per annum, at the 
aforesaid times, 3s. and suit of court. 

William, son of John Squier, holds one messuage with its 
curtilage, to himself and the heirs of his body lawfully be- 
gotten, by a certain indented writing made in the name of Agnes 
Prioress of Markyate and her Convent ; which messuage with the 
curtilage belonged formerly to Hugh Coci of Berencester ; and he 
pays rent for the same, at the aforesaid times, 2s. and suit of court. 



appendix:. 219 

John Goldes holds two messuages and four acres of land : where- 
of one acre lies above Bucbamwey between the land of Nicholas 
de Saford and the land of Robert Thames 5 and one acre lies at 
Melleweysend between the land of John Gavel and the land of 
John de Aston ; and one acre lies above Nynacre, between the land 
of the Lady Prioress which Peter Galewei holds, and the land of 
Andrew le Rooke ; and half an acre lies above the Milleweysend, 
between the land of John de Aston and the land of Nicholas le 
Saford ; and half an acre extends unto Twyseledwey, between the 
land of the Prioress and the land of Andrew le Rooke. And he 
pays rent for the same per annum, at the aforesaid times, vis. and 
suit of court. 

Sum of the Rents of the Free Hereditary Tenants 34s. 7\d. 
Whereof 85. 8\d. is for the time of St. Michael : 85. 7\d. for the 
time of the Nativity: 8s. 8d. for the time of the Annunciation: and 
8s. 8\d. for the time of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist. 

Free Tenants of Cottages for the term of their lives. 

Matilda the Taylor (leTaillur) holds by Court Roll one messu- 
age with its curtilage, for the term of her life 5 and pays rent for 
the same per annum, at the four times aforesaid, 4$. and suit of 
court. 

Isabella Mandi holds one messuage with its curtilage, by Court 
Roll, for the term of her life 5 and pays rent per annum, at the 
aforesaid times, 2s. and suit of court. 

John Monekes and Matilda his wife hold by an indented writing, 
for the term of their lives, one messuage with its curtilage, and pay 
rent per annum 3s. and suit of court. 

John the Baker and Christiana his wife hold by indented writ- 
ing, for the term of their lives, four houses with the curtilage , and 
one Oven, with customary suit for the same : and they pay rent per 
annum, at the times aforesaid, Qs. and suit of court. Sum 18s. 

Lands of the Domains let for the term of life. 

John Abbot holds for the term of his life, by Court Roll, one acre 
and one rood of land, as they lie in the field in five parcels ; whereof 



$2G APPENDIX* 

one rood lies between the land of Nicholas the Bailiff 3 of Bigenhult 
and the land of Robert Michell of Bigenhull, and extends as far 
as Oldedich ; and another rood lies between the land of the afore- 
said Nicholas and the land of John Rooke above Shottedown, and 
extends above Longelond ; and another rood lies between the land 
of Robert Michell of Berencester, and extends as far as Longelond •> 
and another rood lies near the land of Nicholas aforesaid of Bigen- 
hull, and extends above Oldedich ; and another rood lies at the 
lower end of Oldedich, near the gap between the land of Nicholas 
at the bridge and the land of Robert Eylot. And he pays rent for 
the same per annum, at the times aforesaid, 18d. 

The same John holds for the term of his life, by Court Roll, ten 
acres and one rood of land, which John Faber formerly held : where- 
of six acres and a half lie in Rydiforlong in the Ridemor near Oxen- 
fordwey,and half an acre lies above Overdemershlond ; and one acre 
and a half and one rood lie together near Cuttacre, between the 
land of Walter Sebern and the Brodewey, which leads towards 
Bikenhull ; and half an acre lies above Cuttacre, between the 
land of William Hamond, slave born of the Lady, and the- 
land of William le Blake: and half an acre lies above Magethorn 
near the land of Nicholas de Saford, slave born of the Lady ; and 
four roods of land lie above the Staneputtes, between Roger leReve 
and the land of Jchn James ; and one rood lies beyond Overlonglond, 

between the land of Roger le Reve and and one acre lies 

in the Netherbrech, between the land of Nicholas le Reve and 

The same John holds by Court Roll one acre and a half of land : 
whereof one acre lies above Strongforlong, between the land of 
Walter Sebern andOrcherdeforlong; and half an acre lies nearOlde- 
more, between the land of Hamond atte Nunende and Robert Ger- 
meyn, slaves born of the Lady. And he pays rent for the same per 
annum, at the times aforesaid, ?s. 6d. 

The same John holds for the term of his life, by Court Roll, two 
acres of land at Gibelyng, near the land formerly of John de 
Bigenhull, on the south side : and he pays rent per annum, at the 
times aforesaid, lie?. 

2 Propositi. 



APPENDIX. 221 

John the Baker and his wife hold eight acres of arable land, by 
Court Roll, at the will of the Lady : whereof two acres lie between 
the land of Thomas Rook and the land of Thomas William, and 
extend above Buckamwey; and two acres lie in the Morforlong, 
between the land of John atte Ford and the land which belonged to 
Robert Eylot j and two acres lie at Mangethorn, whereof one acre 
lies between the land of Thomas Williams and the land of William 
Cavel, and another acre lies between the land of William Cavel 
and the land of William Frankleyn j and half an acre and one rood 
lie above Cornhull, between the land of Agnes le Blake and the 
land of William le Blake, and one rood lies between the land of 
Simon Germeyn and the land of the aforesaid Nicholas, and one 
acre lies above Cornhull, between the land of the Lady Prioress and 
the land of John Wattes. And they pay rent for the same per 
annum, at the times aforesaid, 4*. 11^. 

Nicholas le Blake holds by writing indented, for the term of his 
own life and that of Agnes his wife, twelve acres and one rood of 
land : whereof six acres lie above Waterforlong j and two acres lie 
near the way, to wit the Gores above Shorteforlong, and half an 
acre at Kyngesmere, and one acre at Longelondes, and one acre at 
Hangateshull, to wit Foreshete, and one acre and a half above 
Waterforlong nearer to Berencester, and two roods above Water- 
forlong in Lallesden, and two acres in Lallesden, and one rood in 
the Broke beyond Bigenhull. And he pays rent for the same per 
annum, at the times aforesaid, Js. 6d. 

Simon Germeyn and Matilda his wife hold by writing indented, 
for the term of their life, sixteen acres of land : whereof one acre lies 
in Southfeld above Grascroftforlong, and two acres above Lutlemor- 
forlong, and one acre in the Furlong towards Bigenhull, and two 
acres and a half above Hodesforlong, and half an acre (which is 
called Brodehalfsacre) inTachemullewey,and one acre above Mer- 
forlong, nearer to Berencester j and three acres in Northfeld above 
Brokforlong, and two acres above Waterforlong, and one acre in 
Lallesden, and two acres in the Breche. And they pay rent for 
the same per annum, at the times aforesaid, 10$. 

John de Lacy and Petronilla his wife hold by Court Roll two 



222 APPENDIX. 

acres of land lying together above Overny nacre, between the land 
of my lord the Earl of Lincoln and the land of John Rooke in 
the north field. And they pay rent per annum, 14c?. 

John de Aston holds four acres and a half of land, which John 
deBigenhull formerly held : whereof half an acre lies above Over- 
denyshlond, near the land of John Hargur ; and another half acre 
lies in the same place, near the land of John Whyn; and half an acre 
lies at Mulleweylonde, near the land of John Goldesj and one acre 
and a half lie at Cornhull, near the land formerly of John le Bakere 
holding of the Lady - 7 and half an acre lies at St. Edburghes Grene- 
wey, near the land of John Abbot j and one acre in Netherdenyshe- 
lond, near the land of Simon Ward. And he pays rent per an- 
num, 2s. lOfd, 

William le Blake, slave born of the Lady, holds at will those 
three acres which the master William the Vicar sometime held, 
and after him John Faber and Isabella his wife sometime held : 
whereof one acre lies in the Morforlong, near Sidenhallj and half 

an acre lies near Stanfordewey, and another half acre lies 

. . and another half acre at Eldeford, and another half acre above 
Overdenyshelond. He pays rent per annum, 2s. 3d. 

William Cavel and Nicholas de Saford, slaves born of the Lady, 
hold four acres of land which Roger Morian sometime held : 
whereof two acres lie in the Northfeld at Cotemanleye. And they 
pay per annum, at the times aforesaid, 2s. Sd. And they are held 
by Roll at will. 

William Cavel, slave born, holds four acres of land by Court 
Roll : whereof one acre lies above Hangeteshulle, near the land of 
Nicholas le Blake ; and one acre between the land formerly of 
Simon Germeyn and a land of Agnes le Blake, and abutting upon 
the aforesaid acre and half in Lallesden $ and half an acre above 
Middlefurlong, between the land of Nicholas atte Brigge and Robert 
Germeyn j and one acre in Middlefurlong, between the land of 
Nicholas le Blake and the land of Simon Germeyn. He pays rent 
per annum, 2s. Sd. 

Robert le Friend, slave born of the Lady, holds by Court Roll at 
will five acres of land : whereof one acre lies above Wadforloug. 



APPENDIX. 223 

between the land of Simon Germeyn and the land of the said 
Robert ; and one acre lies in the same piece, between the land of 

Robert Baud and the land ; and half an acre 

lies above the Croftelond, between the land of John atte Forde and 
the land of John Walter, and extends above the Wodeweye -, and 
half an acre lies above Eldefeld, next to the More between the land 
of John James and of Walter Sebern $ and one acre lies above 
Netherdenyshelond, between the land of John Knyghtand the land 

j and one acre above Shorteforlong, between the land 

He pays rent per annum, 2s. 10c?. 

Peter Galewar, slave born of the Lady, holds for the term of his 
own life and that of his wife, six acres of land : whereof two acres 
and a half lie together above the Netherynacre, between the land 
of Robert Germeyn and the land of John Goldes j and two acres 
lie in the Morforlong between the Lord John de Langeleand John 
Erbich j and half an acre lies in the Shorteforlong, above the old 
dych between Robert Germeyn and John Stevene; and one acre ex- 
tends above Imbelow Grene Wey between the Lord of Bigenhull 
and John de Saford, he pays rent per annum, at four times, 4s. 
6d. per acre gd. 

Sum of Acres demised for the term of life^ eighty acres and a 
half and one rood. 

Robert Elyot Chaplain, son of Robert Elyot lately deceased, 
who was slave born of the Lady, and who held in villenage 3 two 
messuages and two half yard lands of the Lady, holds one messu- 
age and half a yard land of the aforesaid two messuages, and two 
half yard lands, which messuage is situated near the tenement 
formerly of John Syrech j and the said half yard land contains 22 
acres of arable and one acre, one rood, one parcel at Shrofdeles. 
Two swathes of the said meadow lie as follows : — Half an acre 
lies in Southfeld in culture^ atte Spore, near the land of the 
Lord of Bigenhull: and one rood at Gadewey, near the land of the 
aforesaid lord} and one rood in Oredoune near the land of William 



In londagio ; in bondage or villenage. 



224 APPENDIX. 

Cavel on the one side, and the land of Nicholas atte Brigge ; and 
one rood above Strongforlong near the land of Peter Gallowar ; 
and at Wowelond half an acre, near the land of the Prioress of 
Merkyate ; and at Godeforlong half an acre, between the land of 
Peter Galewar and of Walter Sebern ; and half an acre hi Lesemor 
side, near the land of the Lord of Bigenhull ; and at Funleslo one 
rood, near the land of Walter Sebern ; and at the Foxhal half an 
acre, near the land of Robert Thames ; and in the same place half 
an acre, near the land of Simon Germeyn ; and in the same place 
half an acre, near the land of John Eylrich ; and one acre in the 
same place, near the land of P. Galewar ; and half an acre atte 
Twiseledewey near the land of John atte Brigge ; and half an acre 
beyond the Twiseledewey, near the land of John le Rooke ; and 
half an acre at Shorteforlong, near the land of John Walter ; and 
half an acre at Brademor, near the land of Robert le Friend ; and 
half an acre in the same place, near the land of Walter Sebern ; and 
half an acre in the same place, near the land of John Walter; and 
half an acre in the same place, near the land of the Lady Prioress 5 
and one acre atThoftewellemor,near the land of the Lord of Bigen- 
hull ; and in Oldefeld half an acre, between the land of the Lady and 
of John Waller; alsoin the Northfeld half an acre, at the Wowelond, 
near the land of John Walter ; and one acre above Crockwellefor- 
long, near the land of John Walter ; and half an acre above Pouk- 
welleforlong, near the land of Simon Germeyn ; and half an acre 
at Isenfordhull, near the land of Robert Wymark; and half an acre 
at Sidenhal, near the land of Ely Coke ; and half an acre beyond 
the road to St. Edburg, near the land of Robert le Frend ; and half 
an acre at Stanforde, near the land of John atte Ford ; and half an 
acre in the same place, near the land of Robert Thames; and half an 
acre in the same place, near the road to St. Edburg; andone rood at 
Cornhull, near the land of Walter Sebern j and one rood in the same 
place, near the land of Andrew le Rooke; and half an acre atCote- 
manlaye, near the land of John atte Ford ; and in the same place 
one rood, near the land of John atte Ford ; and at Gatethorn half 
an acre near the land of John James; and half an acre at Overbrech, 
near the land of Simon Germeyn; and half an acre at Sagesthorn, 



APPENDIX. 225 

near the land of Peter Galewar, and half an acre in the same place 
near the king's highway, and at Waltersforlong half an acre be- 
tween the land of John Walter and of Walter Sebern and half an 
acre in Lallesdon near the land of Walter Sebern, and half an 
acre at Kyngesacre near the land of Robert Coleyn and half an 
acre at Middleforlong near the land of the Prior of Berencester 
and half an acre in the same place near the land of John Cavel 
and he pays rent per annum at the end thereof one mark and one 
coming to the court. 

Of which meadow half a rood lies atte Witheyes near the Prior's 
Meadow and half an acre atte Lake near the land formerly of Si- 
mon Germeyn and one rood letwhene dike near the land formerly 
of John at Ford, and one rood atte Rowelowe by lot as it shall fall 
out between the said Robert his brother William, John, Walter, 
and Peter Galeware, and half a rood and half a swathe at Shorte- 
dolemede and one parcel at Shrofdolemed between the saidRobeit 
and his brother William and containing as it shall fall out by lot, 
and two swathes at Mathames when it shall fall by lot amongst the 
community. 

Sum of the rents of the Holders of the Domain Lands for the 
term of their lives 64s. Q\d. whereof for the time of St. Michael 
l6s. lid. for the time of the birth of our Lord l&s. \{d. for the 
time of the Annunciation &c. 

Rents and Services of Copyholders. 

Robert son of Nicholas Germeyn holds one messuage and half 
a yard land in villenage at the will of the Lady and is bound to per- 
form one ploughing in winter and one weeding and one wedbed- 
rip 4 at the will of the Lady, and shall have one meal and is 
bound to perform one mowing for half a day, and a whole yard 
land of the same tenure shall have Ivery at what are called 
evenyngs as much of what is mown as a mower can lift up with 
his scythe and carry home with the same, and half a yard land of 
the same tenure shall have livery in the evening with a companion 



< Reapnig performed by a tenant for his bid. 
a 



226 APPENDIX. 

as much of what is mown as a mower can lift up with his scythe 
and carry home, and the mower shall have his breakfast from the 
Lady Prioress, and the said Robert and all the other copyhold te- 
nants of the Lady having livery are bound to turn the grass which 
has been mowed in the meadow called Gilberdesham without 
receiving a dinner and there to toss up the hay and make it into 
cocks And he is bound to carry four cart-loads of hay to the 
yard of the Prioress and he shall have one breakfast from the Lady 
Prioress. And a yard land of the same kind shall perform three 
days work in Autumn to wit one day's work without a dinner with 
three men and one day's work without a dinner with one man 
and if he be a binder he shall have at the said days work one sheaf 
of wheat for seed of the last wheat that was bound, and he is 
bound also to perform one day's work at the will of the Lady with 
his whole family except his wife and shall dine with the Lady and 
as often as the binder has his dinner he shall not have the sheaf, 
and he is bound to carry four cart-loads of wheat in Autumn to the 
manor of the Lady and he shall have one breakfastand he is bound 
to be assessed at the feast of St. Michael at the will of the Lady 
Prioress, nor is he allowed to sell a male horse or an ox of his own 
feeding, nor to put his son to learning, nor to give his daughter in 
marriage without the permission and will of the Prioress. But if -the 
Lady Prioress be present the said Robert shall fetch and carry eat- 
ables and drinkables to the Prioress during the time that she shall 
tarry in the county at her will, and he shall also pay rent per 
annum at the four usual times 2s. 6d. and suit of court. 

William Hammond holds one messuage and half a yard land by 
the same service and pays rent per annum 2s. 6d. 

William Cavel holds one messuage and half a yard land in man- 
ner aforesaid and pays rent per annum 2s. 6d. 

John Cavel holds one messuage and half a yard land and pays 
rent per annum 25. 6d. 

The same John holds one messuage at the will of the Lady be- 
sides the other aforesaid tenement and pays rent per annum 2s. 

Robert Michel holds one messuage and half a yard land by the 
aforesaid service and pays rent per annum 2s. Qd. 



APPENDIX. 227 

Robert le Friend holds one messuage and half a yard land by 
the aforesaid services and pays rent per annum 2s. 6d. 

Rose who was the wife of John Knight holds &c. as above and 
pays rent Is. 6d. 

John Walter holds one messuage and half a yard land and pays 
rent yearly 2s. 6d. 

Peter Galeware holds the same &c. 

William son of Robert Eylot holds the same &c. 

Nicholas de Saford holds the same &c. 

William le Blake holds the same &c. 

Alicia who was the wife of Richard le Grey villain and slave 
born of the lady holds one messuage two acres of land and half 
an acre of meadow and shall perform one weeding and one wed- 
bedrip and haymaking, and shall rind one man to make a haycock 
as the aforesaid Robert son of Nicholas and shall perform three 
days work in Autumn without allowance of food and she pays rent 
per annum I2d. 

Nicholas at the Spring holds one messuage with a croft and two 
acres of land and half an acre of meadow by the same services 
as the aforesaid Alice and pays rent per annum lSd. and suit. 

Sum of the rents of the Copyholders and Villains 34s. Qd. where- 
of for the time of St. Michael Ss. J\d. &c. 

Sum total of the whole rent aforesaid Jl. 1 Is 3~d. &c. 

John Abbot holds one messuage and pays rent for it per annum 
3s. yd. at the times aforesaid and suit of court. 

The sime John holds another messuage formerly Roger le 
Moyne's and pays rent for it per annum 4s. at the times aforesaid. 

The same John and Juliana his wife hold 4 acres of land in fee 
by deed whereof 2 acres lie at the Cadeford and i rood at Liveru- 
chesdich and 2 acres and a half at the Morforlong and they pay 
rent for the same per annum 3s. 6d. at the times aforesaid. 

The same bold 6 acres of arable land in fee by deed whereof 
1 \ acre lie near Euckinghamewey towards the north side and 1^ 
acre lie above Overynacre and 1 acre which is called Catacers and 
1 acre above Goldfurlong and 4 ends which contain 1 acre Sec, 



228 APPENDIX. 

The same John holds at the will of the lady ] acre and 1 rood 
of land lying in 5 parts whereof J rood lies between the land of Ni- 
cholas 5 Bailiff of Bygenhull and the land of Robert Michel of By- 
genhull and extends as far as Olddich and another rood between the 
rood of the aforesaid Nicholas and the land of John Rok above 
Shortdoun and extends as far as Longeland and another rood near 
the land of Nicholas the bailiff of Bygenhull and extends as far as 
Oldedich and 1 rood lies at the lower end of the Oldedich near the 
Scappe between the land of Nicholas at the Bridge and the land 
of Robert Elyot paying rent for the same yearly \Sd. at the ac- 
customed times &c. 

Of lands let to farm. 

John Squier holds 2 1 acres of land of the domain of the Prioress, 
whereof 1^ acre lie above Overfordeshull and 1 acre above Hodes- 
forlong for the term of his life and pays rent for the same per an- 
num 22%d. 

Nicholas le Blake holds 13 acres and 1 rood of land whereof 6 
acres lie above Waterforlcng and 2 roods near the road, to wit, the 
Gores above the Shortforlong and ^ an acre at Kyngesmer and 1 
acre at Longeland and 1 acre at Hangateshull to wit Foreschetere 
and l^ acre above Wateresforlong near Berencestre and 2 roods 
above Waltersforlong in Lallesdene and 2 acres in Lallesdene and 
1 rood near the broke beyond Bykenhull and he pays rent for 
the same per annum Js. 6d. at the times aforesaid and holds for the 
term of his life and that of Agnes his wife. 

John de Astone holds 4 acres of land whereof 1 acre lies above 
Overdencheland and \ an acre lies at Seynt Edhurges Grene Wty 
near the land of John Abbot and \ an acre at Melesweyende and 
1 acre at Cornhull and \ an acre at Standfordsgreneweye and J acre 
above Netheresciencheland and he pays rent for the same per an- 
num 25. 10a'. &c. 

Roger Mortimer slave born of the Prior of Berencester holds 4 
acres of land whereof 2 acres lie in Southfeld at Oldediches end 

5 Propositi. 



APPENDIX. 229 

and 2 acres lie in Northfeld at Colmanleye and he pays rent for 
the same per annum 2s. 8d. at the times aforesaid and it is held for 
the term of his life. 

Henry by the custom holds 9 acres and 1 rood of land whereof 
5 acres lie above Radyforlong and ■£ an acre above Overdenches- 
Jand and 1^ acre and 3 roods above Catacre, &c. 



No. III. 

Charter for the foundation of an Hospital in Burcester. 

A. D. 1355. 

(translation ) 

The King to all unto whom &c. Know ye that of our special 
favour we have granted and given permission for ourselves and our 
heirs as much as in us lies, to Nicholas Jurdan of Burcester Her- 
mit, Guardian of the Chapel of the blessed John the Baptist of 
Burcester, that he may found a certain Hospital for the reception 
and entertainment of the poor and sick to the honour of God and 
of the glorious Virgin Mary his Mother and of the blessed John 
the Baptist at Burcester and may endow it with one hundred shil- 
lings of land and rent per annum with the appurtenances according 
to their true value, excepting lands, tenements, and rents which 
are held of us in capite, to have and to hold unto the said Guar- 
dian and his successors in aid of the support of the same and of a 
certain Cnaplain to celebrate divine service on every day for ever 
in the aforesaid Chapel for our welfare and for that of Philippa 
Queen Consort of England and of Edward Prince of Wales our 
most dearly beloved son as long as we shall live and for our souls 
when we shall have been withdrawn from beholding this light, and 
for the souls of all the faithful deceased, the statute against placing 
lands and tenements in mortmain notwithstanding; &c. 
Witness the King at Westminster 15th day of May. 



230 APPENDIX, 



No. IV. 

Account of the outgoings and incomings of the Dairy 
of Le BrecL 1407. 8, 9, Henry IV. 

. (translation.) 

Wrechwyke. Account of Henry Deye and Joan his wife of all 
outgoings and incomings of the Dairy 7 of the Lord Prior of Burn- 
cestre at his close of Le Brech kept by the same from the morrow 
of St. Michael the archangel in the seventh year of the reign of 
King Henry the fourth after the conquest unto the same morrow 
of the same clay in the eighth year of the same reign. 

Sale of Cows. First j the persons aforesaid are responsible for 
7s, received for one cow sold to John Grene butcher of Burn- 
cester this year. Sum Js. 

Sale of Calves. For 20d. received for a calf of the aforesaid 
Cow which was sold to the said John Grene this year. And for 
I2d. received for a weak calf of a certain heifer 8 sold to the afore- 
said John this year. And for 105. 8d. received for 5 calves of the 
outgoing of this new year sold to the butcher of Langeton this year. 
Sum 135. 4d. 

Sale of Skins. In the sale of skins nothing done this year. 

Agistment of Beasts. And for 35. Ad. received for the feeding 
of sundry beasts within the aforesaid close and out of it this year. 
Sum 35. Ad. 

Sale of Cheese. And for 6/s. Q\d. received for cheese and butter 
as appears by a bill of things remaining with brother Richard Albon 
the Canon this year : and the less on account of the very great 
plenty of cheese this year throughout the whole parish. Sum 67s. 
6\d. 

Sale of Fuel. And for 2s. 2d. received for thorns and branches 
remaining after the making and repairing of the hedges of the afore- 
said close, sold to the men of Langeton this year. And for 3d. re- 

7 Davri. 8 Hekfore. 



APPENDIX. 231 

ceived for one load of. sold to John Grene of Burcester this 

year. Sum 2s. 6d. 

Sum total received as aforesaid 4/. 135. J\d. 

Allowance. Out of which things are allowed unto the afore- 
said Henry and Joan for their yearly salary paid at four times of 
the year 13s. Ad. And in allowance to the same for five bushels 
and a half of salt bought this year 35. A\d. And for exchange made 
for one cow remaining in store for one bullock of John atte Mulle 
12d. And for a new Cowele 9 bought gd. And for a new Kevere l9 
bought 8d. And there is allowed unto them for one cow with its 
calf bought of John Okie butcher of Stratton 7s. 6d. And there 
is allowed to them for two bushels of wheat Wd. And there is 
allowed to them for carriage of straw by William Holt junior from 
the rectory of Stratton lid. And there is allowed to them for the 
making and repairing of the hedges by sundry men of Langeton 
4s. 2d. And for the victuals of the said men 2s. Also there is al- 
lowed to them for carriage of white straw for the rectory of Strat- 
ton aforesaid 1 1</. And for William Throcchere threshing for five 
days l(W. And for the repairing of the Cow-house lid. — Suni 
385. 11 Id. 

Costs of a new cart and of new husbandry. And ihere is allowed 
to the same Henry for two oxen bought of John Clerk of Lange- 
ton 26s. 8d. And for another ox bought of John Yve of Burcester 
125. 6d. Nothing is charged here, because it stands in the account 
of the Bursar of "the Priory of Burncester. And there is allowed 
to the same for two Turkeys (Africanis) bought at Bannebury with 
their expences 155. 2d. And in one new plough bought of Hugo 
Spinan lOd. And for the making of another plough by John Ben- 
hull A\d. And for one share and one coulter and half a beam u 
with one Plowshoe 12 bought 23rf. And another share is put down 
nothing here in money because it was purchased with the work- 
ing of a plough ploughing the land of Simon Adam. And there is 
allowed to the same for sundries drawing and driving the plough 

9 A tub with ears carried between two persons. 

10 A cover or vessel used for milk or whey. i* Toughe. 
»* Plowsho. 



232 APPENDIX. 

with their victuals and expenses this year \Js. g\d. and for 1 1 
bushels of wheat bought for sowing 5s. \0^d. aud for one quarter 

of pease bought for sowing received from the rectory of 

Stratton, as appears by the account-roll of Nicholas Alleyn bailiff 
there this year 2s. 8d. and 2 quarters of barley reckoned here no- 
thing in money because received from the rectory of Stratton afore- 
said as appears likewise by the account-roll of the aforesaid Nicho- 
las Alleyn this year. And there is allowed for 18 bushels of oats 
bought for sowing 4s. 6d. and there is allowed for hay bought for 
the cows and oxen (jd. and there is allowed for three new harrows 
bought to harrow \Sd. and for one seedlip lS bought 3d. and for 
one cart- saddle H one collar with one pair of traces bought \4d. 
and for another collar with whitleather bought 4d. and for the 
making of drawing-geer 15 by Walter Carpenter of Langeton 3d. 
and for two other collars bought 2d. and for two hempen halters 
with whip-cord 6 bought 3d. and for iron bought with three 
horse-shoes bought at sundry times yd. and for the expences of 
William Throcchere. . . . mowing in the meadow of la Breche l6d. 
and for one dung cart i7 bought of Simon Adam with its appurte- 
nances ]4d. and for sawing and planing one cart-body 18 by William 
Pire with his victuals Qd. and for making a cart by Richard Schere- 
man gd. and for a pair of wheels bought of John Helmenden 35. 2d. 
and for fastening the fellies !9 of the same 3d. and for shoeing the 
same 20 by Laurence Smyth ISd. and for weeding half an acre of 
land in the crofts 6d. and there is allowed to the same for Richard 
Plumbar for hanging*' the waggon for twelve days 3s. and for John 
Bowdon for hanging 23 the waggon for one day 8d. and for victuals 
bought for the makers of the Prior's ricks \2d. and John Hey- 

ward .... sixteen acres and a half of different grain 9s. Qd 

Sum logs. 2\d. 

Sum total of all the aforesaid expenses ?/. Js. 5d. and thus the 
allowances with the aforesaid expenses exceed the receipts 
535. g\d. 

l 3 Seedcod. '■* Cartsadel. J 5 Drawgere. l6 Wliippecord. 

17 Dongecart. lS Cartbody. '? Fritting. Q0 Calciafura. 

si Fur can te, fitting the body to hang on the axle or wheels. —Glossary. 



APPENDIX. 233 

Account of Henry Deye and Joan his wife of all outgoings and 
incomings from the dairy of the Lord Prior of Burncester at his 
close of Le Brech in the manour of Wrechwyke kept by the 
same from the morrow of St. Michael the archangel in the 
eighth year of the reign of King Henry the fourth unto the same 
morrow of the same day in the ninth year of his reign. 

First, they reckon nothing this year from the sale of cows. 

Sale of Calves. Also they are responsible for igd. received for 
one calf sold to John Grene butcher of Burcester this year. — 
Sum 10,/. 

Sale of Skins ; nothing this year. 

Agisting of Beasts. And 3s. §d. received for the keep of sun- 
dry beasts within the aforesaid close and out of it in the com- 
mon pasture this year. — Sum 3s. 5d. 

Sale of Cheese. And for 5/s. 5d. received for cheese and but- 
ter sold, as appears by a bill of things remaining with Master 
Richard Albon Canon this year, and the less on account of the 
very great plenty of cheese throughout the whole parish, and like- 
wise besides presents of cheese made by the Prior. — Sum 57s. 5d. 

Sum total received 5/s. 5d, 

Allowance. Out of which things they pray to be allowed for 
surplusage of the account of the year immediately foregoing as 
appears on the other ?ide of this roll 53s. g±d. And for their 
salary for this whole year 13s. Ad. And for salt bought nothing 
in money, because it was bought with the sale of cheese. 

Sum 6?s. l\d. and thus, upon this account there is owing to the 
aforesaid Henry and Joan As. &\d. 

Account of the aforesaid Henry and Joan for stores remaining 
within the aforesaid dairy in the year aforesaid. 

First ; they are answerable for three bulls remaining in store. — 
Sum 3s. and remain. 



234 



No. V. 

Priory Accounts. Burcester*, 1425. 
(translation.) 

Bukcester. Account of master Richard Parentyn Prior, and of 
brother Richard Albon Canon and Bursar there, of all goods re- 
ceived and delivered by them from the morrow of St. Michael the 
archangel in the third year of the reign of King Henry the sixth 
after the conquest unto the said morrow in the fourth year of the 
same king. 

Curtlington. First ; they are responsible for a red rose received 
on the day of St. John the Baptist from Henry Bowell of Curt- 
lington aforesaid, for certain lands and tenements which the afore- 
said Henry holds there by indenture therefore made. 

Newenton Purcell. And for one clove received on Easter day 
for certain lands and tenements formerly belonging to Roger de 
Stodele, and some of which are now made over to John Purcell 
lord of the same to hold to him and his heirs for ever. 

Pouhele. From whence nothing this year. 

Arrears. They are also responsible for J&l. 12s. 5\d. remaining 
of the arrears of the last account of the year immediately pre- 
ceding, as appears at the foot of the account of the same year. — > 
Sum 78/. 125. 5±d. 

Rent with farms. And for Al. As. Ad. received for the rent of 
fourteen tenements in Burcestre Buryend and Kyngend, as ap- 
pears by the rental this year, and for 36s. received for the farm- 
ing of a horse-mill within the priory this year, and not more on 
account of the bad conduct of the miller, who having occupied it 
more than half a year ran away without paying any rent. And 
for 26s. 8d. received for a water-mill situated there this year. 
And for /3s. Ad* received for the rent of tenants in Wrechewyke, 
as appears by the rental this year. And for 34s. received for 



APPENDIX. 235 

crofts lying there this year. And for 56s. 6d. received for lands 
meadows and pastures lying in the fields of Wrechwyke aforesaid 
let to sundry men of Blakethorn and others, as appears by the tally 
against William Spinan collector of the same rent this year. And 
for 66s. 8d. received from John Yve for the farm of a new close 
near Gravenhull per annum. And for 35s. 6d. received from the 
dairy of La Breche, as appears by the account roll of John Deye 
and of Margery his wife this year. .And for 3Jl. 8s. received for 
rent in Dadington, Clyfton, and Hampton, with the farm of the 
manor and mills of Clyfton aforesaid, with extents of courts, 
portmotes 96 and the toll of the market, as appears by the account 
of John Wolfe collector of rent there this year. And for 31/. 
13s, Ad. received from the grange of Stratton Audele, as appears 
by the account of Nicholas Aleyn bailiff there this year. And 
for 6s. 8d. received for a certain tenement which the same Nicho- 
las holds there per annum. And for 60s. received from the farm 
of Caversfeld per annum. And for J 3/. 6s. 8d. received from 
the farm of Grymmsbury per annum. And for 4/. 13s. Ad. re- 
ceived from the farm of Westcote this year, and no more on ac- 
count of the falling off of the rent. And for 26s. 8d. received 
from the culture and pasture of Blackenhull in the parish of 
Wodesdon this year. And for 53?. Ad. received for rent in Arn- 
cote, with hidage there this year. And for 33s, Ad. received from 
John Chambre and from John Yve for the site of the manor with 
the lands and meadows of the domain there per annum. And for 
2s. received for rent from Fryngford per annum. And for 13/. 
6s. 8d. received from John Donesmore for the farm of Bemount 
per annum. And for Al. As. 2d. received for rent in Curtlington 
by tally against William Newman collector of rent there per an- 
num. And for l6l. received for the farm of the Church of Ard- 
yngton this year. And for Al. 13s. Ad. received for the farm of 
Letecumbe this year, and no more on account of the falling off of 
the rent. And 5 1. 6s 8d. received from the farm of our part in 



56 A convention of the inhabitants, in which some customary dues w< 
paid. 



236' APPENDIX. 

the church of Cumpton Basset, and no more on account of the 
falling off of the rent this year. And for 185. received for rent 
in Wendulburi this year. And for 55s. Ad. received for rent in 
Takele this year. And for .... received from the farm of Mud- 
lington this year.— Sum l()5l. lgs. 6d. 

Outgoings of the manor. And for 8s. received for one foal 
sold by John Deye at Bucks at the feast of the Apostles Peter 
and Paul this year. And for 21s. &d. received for ten quarters of 
pease sold to John Nuttebeme this year. And for 37$. Id. re- 
ceived for eighteen quarters and two bushels of pease sold to sun- 
dry men in lots this year. And for 26s. 8d. received for pease- 
straw sold to John Trote this year. And for 2s. Ad. received for 
old hay at Crockwell sold to Robert Grene this year. And for 
12s. received for five skins of oxen. And for 4s. proceeding from 

the cattle store. And Is. for a certain a7 killed at the 

larder and sold by the cook, as appears by the Journal this year. 
And for 2s. /d. received for two cow-skins of the store of La 
Breche^ and which cows were killed in the hostel per week, as 
appears by the aforesaid Journal of things sold this year. And 
for 45. 8d. received for three skins of cows bought and killed in 
the hostel as above and sold this year. And for 2s. received for 
sixteen skins of store calves of La Breche killed in the hostel as 
above and sold this year.- — Sum 1 \Qs. lOd. 

Outgoings of the Sheepfold. And for 45. received for twenty 
one lambs sold to John Deye of Wrechwyke this year. And for 
95. received for thirty six skins of Welch tags killed in the hostel, 
between the end of St. Michael and Lent, and sold by brother 
William Chestreton cook this year. And for 35. 3d. received for 
thirteen skins of store tags killed in the hostel between the end 
of Easter and sheepshearing time, and sold by the same this year. 
And for 35. \\d. received for fifteen pelts 28 of hoggrels which had 
been bought and killed in the hostel between the same shearing 
time and the aforesaid end of St. Michael, sold by the same this 



2 7 Hietto, sheep of two years old. Vide Glossary. 

* 8 Peltys. 



.APPENDIX. 237 

year. And for 2s. 1 1 d. received for fourteen skins. And for 10/. 1 8s. 
6d. received for twenty three tods " of clean wool sold to a mer- 
chant at Oxon this year at Qs. 6d. per tod. And for 12s. received 
for refuse wool sold to Nicholas Aleyn this year. And for 2s. for 
broken wool, viz. locks 30 gathered at sheepshearing sold to John 
Deye this year. — Sum 12/. 3s. gd. 

Outward Receipts. And for 20cL received for underwood 
sold by Thomas Seler at Bernewode this year. And for 2s. J\d. 
received in part of payment for the tithe of lambs in Burcester, 
Wrechwyke, and Bygenhuil this year. And for \00s. received 
from the Vicar of Burcestre, being a donation of the same 
towards building anew the dormitory this year. And for 20d. re- 
ceived and given by John Tanner towards the same work this year. 
-—Sum 105s. U\d. 

Letting of Lands. And for 5s. received for a half yard land, 
with half an acre of meadow in Longedole mede, and with half 
an acre of meadow in Aylmeres mede, let to Richard Cooke, per 
copy, for the term of his life, &c. — Sum \Js. Id. 

Sale of Herbage. And for 8s. received for the whole tithe of hay 
and for headlands lying at Northmede let to Thomas Keep this 
year. And for 5s. received from Mulneham, with three acres of 
land formerly arable lying in the Medeacres beyond Langeford 
&c. And for gd. &c. for the herbage of the heads of three acres 
and a half lying together in a certain furlong called Bury gate, which 
John Sellar formerly held, &c. And for Schortdole mede nothing 
in money this year, because in the hand of the lord. And for the 
meadow of the Prioress of Merky ate nothing in money, because it 
remains in the store of the lord this year ; &c. And for 6s. 8d. re- 
ceived for two hammys 31 of a meadow in the field of Wendlebury 
sold to Philip Webb this year, &*c. And the slade towards Gra- 
venhull nothing in money this year, because it remains in the store 
of the lord, &c— Sum 4/. 45. Wd. 

Perquisites of court. And for 6s. 8d. from John Smythe, 

« Todde. 3° Lokys. 3i i.e. the herbage if them. 



238 APPENDIX. 

slave-born of the Prior, for a certain fine to have entrance in one 
messuage with one yard land, formerly belonging to Henry Kyng, 
lately demised to John Drap by indenture. And for 3d. received 
for extracts of a court held at Burcestre on the feast of St. Nicho- 
las the bishop this year. — Sum 6s. \\d. 

Sum of the whole aforesaid receipts with arrears 273/. 10s. 3{d. 

Re-payments and allowances. Of which things they pray 
that there may be allowed to the lord Le Straunge for a fur- 
long lying on the outside of the door of the mill of the Priory, 
8s. 4d. per annum. And for payment to the lord of Bygenhull for 
a furlong lying next on the outside of the door leading into the 
country. ... the foot-way 6s. 8d. per annum. And in payment to the 
same lord for a certain tenement in the Venella'*, IQd yearly, and 
in payment to our lady the queen for a certain tenure at Dadynton 
\'ld. yearly ; and in payment to the same lady for a certain helowe 
wall of one house at Curtlyngton 'Id. yearly ; and in payment to the 
same lady for a new rent in the same village for a false casting up 
amongst the tenants there, the present being the 17th current year, 
]0d. per annum. And in an allowance to the farmer of Clyfton 
aforesaid for the report of the houses and closes aforesaid of his 
farm this year, 66s. 8d. Src. And in an allowance to William New- 
man, collector of our rent of Curtlyngton aforesaid, for his labour 
this year As. And in allowance to the same for irrecoverable 
amei cements this year 6d. &c. And in allowance to the same for 
two strange oxen valued at the lord's court, but not paid for and 
unjustly detained, 26s. 8d. &c. And in allowance to the same for 
the digging of stones at the Prior's quarry there, with the repairing 
of digging tools, as appears by the account of the same John, 
58^. Sc/.— Sum 10/. 175. Qd. 

Annual pensions. And in payment to the Abbot of Osencye at two 
times of the year by two acquittances, 60s. And in payment to the 
Abbot of Egnesham at two times of the year by two acquittances, 

3* VfiK'llc. Fr. Petite Rue. Ang. Street. 



APPENDIX. 239 

40s And in payment to the Prior of the ho ise of St. Anne of the 
Carthusian order, near Coventre, for a certain pension of the late 
Abbot of Aulney in Curtlyngton, at two times of the year by two 
acquittances, 40s. And in payment to the Abbot of Messenden for 
a certain freehold farm in Arncote, at two times of the year by two 
acquittances, 61. 13.? 4c/. And in payment for a certain pension 
called Scbirewyte,45. annually. And in payment to John Peparof 
Wendlebury for a certain pension 6s. Sd. annually. — Sum 14/. 4s. 

Tithes and procurations The tithe of our lord the king, nothing 
this year. And in payment: for the procuration of the convoca- 
tion of the clergy held at London before Christmas this year Qd. 
And in payment for procuration of our lord the pope and acquit- 
tance this year Js. 2d. And in payment to our lord the Archdea- 
con of Oxford for procuration of the parochial church of Burces- 
tre this year Js. 7 id. And in payment to the same for the Easter 
visitation this year 2s. And in payment to the same for the visi- 
tation at St. Michael this year I2d. — Sum 18s. 6 Id. 

Debts discharged. And in payment to John Buntyng, citizen and 
apothecary at Oxford, for sundry drugs bought of the same, &c. 
8s. Id. &c. And in payment for eels and other fresh fish bought 
at Dadington by John Wulfe in the year aforesaid 2s. 4d. — Sum 
lis. 5d. 

Cost of ploughs and carts. And in two sets of fellowes for wheels 35 
bought at Bemount, as appears by a paper this year, viz. at two sun- 
dry times I85. And in expenses of carriage of the aforesaid two 
sets of ftllowes from thence, with expenses of Richard Dymby 
at the same place to bargain for the aforesaid fellowes, 23d. 
And in one pair of wheels called schozears bought there, as ap- 
pears by the aforesaid paper, &c. Js id. And in six iron strakys, 
&c. 5s. And in cart nails, gropys, and other iron articles bought 
at Oxford of John Mylton, ironmonger 31 , 125.4c/. And in pay- 
ment to John Pope of Middlington for ironwork for the same 20d. 
And in ten spikes bought of the same for ironwork for the same 



33 Clauiis rotarum. •*■» Yrenmonger. 



240 APPENDIX. 

\0d. And in payment for frytting 3 * five wheels this year, ?d. 
And in one axletree bought, with putting an axletree to one cart, 
8d. &c. And in five yards of waddemole™ bought for horses' col- 
lars this year, 2s. id. &c. And in three collars, one basse, together 
with three halters bought at Sterisbrugge 37 this year 5s. \0±d. And 
in one whip bought there this year 2d. &c. — Sum 61. 8~d. 

Necessary stores 38 . And in one large lock bought before the Feast 
of St. Kalixtus Pope this year 2s. And in parchment bought at 
the fair of St. Frideswyde 6d. And in paper bought at the same 
time there 4d. And in one chair bought at London at the feast of 
St. Thomas ApostleQri., and in payments to the Sub-prior for coppe- 
ras and galls bought for varnish at the same time 2d. And in two 
pounds of candles bought for the Prior's lamp before Christmas 
this year I2d. And in eight pounds of wax bought at Oxford on 
the same day to make two torches 39 for Christmas at the Prior's 
hall 3s. And in repairing a flour-sieve this year \\d. And in 
boulting-cloth 40 bought for sifting flour, &c. \0d. And in two 
horse girths, with more articles bought at the same time for the 
Prior's table 6d. &:c. And soap bought at one time to wash the 
Prior's hall id. &c. And in nineteen ells of linen per ams. bought 
for making table-napkins for the refectory this year 5s. And in 
hair-cloth bought there for the bake-house this year 3s. 6d. And 
in eight snoden of pack-thread bought there for making a net to 
catch rabbits this year 6s. And in six padlocks bought there ls.6d. 
And in two large locks 2d. And in one pound of bird-lime 41 bought 
there 3d. And in one hair-sieve 43 bought for the bake-house there 
1Q<7. And in two hand-scuttles bought there yd. And in five 
scuttles 43 of a smaller kind bought there for other offices Qd. And 
in four mats bought there this year 13d. — Sum 685. Id. 

Stores of the inn. And in white bread bought at different times, 
as appears by the bill, viz. for the Prior and other guests this year 
35. Wd. And in ale, viz. one hundred and thirty-two gallons 44 

3> Fastenisiu with fellows. ^ CI' th to cover horse-collars. 

a" Stourbridge, or Sturbich. 3< * Munita, from Mu!ur t Ft. 

3£> Toroeys. 4 ° Bultercloth. •»' P.yrdlyme. 

i- Heresy ve. 43 Scote'Kb. 44 Lagenih. 



APPENDIX. 241 

and a half, bought of Joan Spinan, Alice Bedale, and other ale- 
wives, as appears by the bill, &c. 4s. \Od. And in thirty-two gal- 
lons of red wine bought of Richard Brasyer of Burcestre, at 8d. per 
gallon, 3 k?. Ad.' 15 And in three gallons and three quarts of sweet 
wine bought of the same, at \6d. per gallon, 5s. &c. And in can* 
vass 46 bought at London by Richard Dymby, before the feast of 
St. Osith the Virgin, for making sheets, 3*. And in a bolt of red 
silk at Steresbrugge, for making a cope 47 (for the priest), 4?. Bd. 
&c.~ Sum 1045. \d. 

Costs of houses. And to W. Hykkedon, mason, hired for four days 
to make a threshold for the parlour door towards the prior's hall, 
&c l6d ., and in nails bought of John Bette for the same door I2d, 
and in rings bought for the same door &d. ; and to John Coventre, 
with two servants, tiling over the chamber called Clykchambour, 
towards the court, for four days, 35. Ad. ; and to two sawyers hired 
for ten days to saw elm boards for making doors and windows, 
6s. Sd. -, and in six estregbords 48 , viz. wainscots bought at Steres- 
brugge 2s. 3d. &c. j and to W. Hykkedon, hired by the great at 
the lord's dwelling-house, to smooth and finish the crest over the 
chancel of the priory there, 24s. &c. — Sum 535, 

Costs of the dormitory-house. And in W. Skern, with his com- 
panions, hired by the great to dig walling-stones at a quarry beyond 
Crockewell, &c. 235. 4d. &c. And in sundry men hired at two 
different times to break stones in the priory for making lime, &c. 
14d. &c. And in payment to John Chepyn, quarryman, for fitting 
and making eighteen corbelstones, to be placed in the aforesaid 
wall, 5s. Ad, &c. And in John Coventre of Banbury, slater, for 
undertaking by the great to cover the aforesaid house, 41, \d. Sec. 
And in iron pipes, weighing twenty-eight pounds, with two 
weather- cocks, viz. tin vanes 49 , bought of the smith of Cherlton, 
to be placed over each end of the aforesaid dormitory, 5s. 2d. &c. 
And in sundry men hired to pull down and draw away the old 
timber, rubbish, and stones, 10d, &c. — Sum 34/. ifs. 4-\d. 



« It should be 21 j. 4d. * 6 Canvayce. 4? Anabatam. 

& Boards from the eastern countries, Norway, &e„ ® Vanys de tyn. 

R 



242 APPENDIX. 

Expenses of the kitchen. And in twenty pullets bought by the 
cook for the feast of St. Kalixtus 20c/. And in one quarter of beef 
bought in Burcestre market, at the feast of St. Thomas the Apo- 
stle, to salt, \6d* And in one cade of red herrings bought of Har- 
mand Banbury, 8s. And in nogs' -flesh bought for the clerks of my 
lord the Archbishop, sitting at a compertorium at Burncestre on 
Wednesday next before the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, 19c?. 
&c. And in one frail 50 of figs, 3s. 4d. &c. And in twelve pounds 
of raisins bought, 13d. &c. And in three couple of green 51 fish, 
with one green ling, with three congers, and with one couple of 
hakets a3 , gs. yd. &c. And in a large axe, called a flesh axe 63 , J 5d. 
And in one hundred of halfwaxfysche, bought at Sterusbruggeby 
brother Richard Albon this year, 21s. &c. And in fifteen couple 
of mylleweli of the smaller kind, 10s. 6d. And in twenty mylle- 
well of the larger kind, 125. And in two bunches 3 * of garlick, 6d. 
And in one salt stone bought for the dove- house, 2\d. &c. — Sum 
46/. 7s. 8d. 

Costs of the sheepfold. And in the wages of John Colyns, 
shepherd at Crockwell, and general superintendant as well there 
as at Wrechwyke, this year, 20d. kc. And in two yards of rus- 
set-cloth, bought and given to the same, 2s. 2d. &c. And in 
twelve sheep -hurdles bought of Nicholas Aleyn this year, ljd. 
And in payment for lopping and making thirty sheep-hurdles at 
Midlington-fold, this year, 19^.— Sum 535. A\d. 

Purchase of grain. And in four quarters of wheat bought at 
Stratton of Nicholas Aleyn, for making malt this year, 165. fee.— 
Sum 625. 3\d. 

Bought for the store. And in one bay horse bought of William 
Salt of Burcestre, before Christmas this year, for the prior's stable, 
265. 8d. And in two colts bought of John Ayrsbrook, at Easter 
this year, 95. And in three hundred and twenty-four pounds of 
Spanish iron, bought at Sterusbrugge fair this year, with carriage 
of the same, 185. 5d. — Sum 545. id. 



5® Frayle. 5> Salted, but which have not had time to dry. 

s 2 Hake. ss Fleschaxe. 54 Bonchys. 



APPENDIX. 243 

Weeding, mowing, and making of hay. And in payment of sun- 
dry men and women on the first day of the month of July, hired 
to weed sundry iields of wheat, as appears by a tally against the 
field-man* 5 , this year, ]4s 10;/. &c. — Sum 74s. Sd. 

Costs of autumn. And in thirty pairs of autumnal gloves, 
bought for divers servants and other labourers this year, 4s. &c. 
And in Thomas Hamunde, hired by a general consultation to pre- 
pare for the cart twenty-nine lands of barley, ten of which extend 
themselves into the Caversfield Brook, and nineteen lie in the 
middle furlong towards the white cross, towards Buckenhull, with 
the ernes 36 , viz. Qd. And in given to William Skinner, a lad 
from the bake house, one of the company of mowers for ten days, 
12d. &c. — Sum 12/. 13s. 3d. 

Thrashing and winnowing. And in John Leseby, thrashing 57 
forty-five quarters of wheat, as appears by the tally this year, tak- 
ing 3\d. for each quarter, Qs. A\d. And in fans hired by the great 
to winnow all kinds of grain threshed below the priory this year, 
10s. — Sum 47. 1 5s. id. 

The chamber of the convent. And in payment to the prior and 
convent for their clothing, at the terms of the Annunciation of the 
blessed Mary, and of St. Michael the Archangel, this year, 
10/. 135. Ad. And in payment to brothers Robert Lawton and 
William Meriton, for their expenses towards the orders existing at 
Higham Ferrers, before the feast of St. Michael this year, Js. — 
Sum 11/. Ad. 

Purchase of livery cloth. And in red cloth bought for the 
esquires and valets of the prior, of John Bandye, of Great Tue, 
clothier, about Christmas this year, J 1. 1 5s. 2d.-r— Sum ?l. 15s. 2d. 

Fees, with the salaries of free-men. And in a fee to John Lange- 
ston, steward, holding the court, 26s. 8d, per annum. And in 
a fee to W. Saleman, attorney to the prior, at London, 6s. 8d. per 
annum. &c. And in salary to John Baldwin, valet de chambre to 
the prior, this year, 13s. Ad. And in salary to W. PufFe, baker, ] 5s. 

55 Agillariura. — A person appointed to take care of the tillage and harvest- 
work and pay the labourers. — See Glossary. 5* Scattered ears. 
W Trituranti ad taxam. 

R2 



244 APPENDIX. 

per annum. And in wages to William Skynner, his assistant, 10s. 
And in salary to the wife of the same, she being malt drier this 
year, 105. And in salary to William Guide, barber this year,6s. And 
in salary to Katharine Colyns, making towels for the kitchen this 
year, 20d. And in gift to the same for one apron, 3d. And in 
salary to the washerwoman, 6s. per annum. — Sum 8/. 17*. 7 a '» 

Wages of the servants. And in wages to Robert Jamys, upper 
bailiff at the Grange, 13s. 4d. per annum. And in wages to Ro- 
bert Clerk, field-man, this year, 13*. 4d. &c. And in wages to Wil- 
liam Lethnarde, plough-holder, this year, 155. &c. And in wages 
to William Erlyche, plough-driver, this year, 14s. 8d. &c. — Sum 
7 1. 135. 5d. 

Wages of labourers. And in John Leseby hedging at the 
sheepfold at Wrechwyke and Crock well, \3d. &c. And in Tho- 
mas Soler, cutting down twenty-one cart loads of underwood at 
Bernwode, 3s. 2d. &c. And in a certain travelling man hired to 
drive plough and harrow for twelve days, 12d. &c. — Sum 42s. 3d. 

External expenses. And in the expenses of John Gyles, of Ox- 
ford, with repairing two saddles there, &c. 2d. And in the ex- 
penses of brother William Chesterton, at Letcombe, on the feast 
of St. Leonard the abbot, for back rent there this year, 12a'. And 
in suits to Thomas Takkele, on account of the returning of two 
writs at Oxford at that time, 4d. &-c. And in Richard Dymby 
riding to London, the second week of the advent of our Lord, for a 
boy to be made a canon, with two horses for three days, this year, 
2s. And in payment to Thomas Takkele aforesaid taking a cer- 
tain lad, late the servant of John Grene, to Oxford castle, in Christ- 
mas w r eek, because he agreed to serve the prior and did not fulfil 
his agreement, 20d. And in payment to the gaoler there to re- 
ceive the aforesaid servant before the time into the aforesaid castle, 
because he had not a warrant at that time, 3s. 4d. Sec. And in 
hurdles bought to re-build Clyfton bridge, in the year last past, 7c?. 
&c. And in old timber bought at Curtlington, with carriage of 
the same, for new making a pillory at Dadyngton, 2s. &c. And in 
payment to John Spinan, for making four quarters of capital malt, 
bafore Easter this year, iQd, And in the expenses of Richard Bo« 



APPENDIX. 245 

teler, at Trentham, on the feast of St. John, ante portam Latinam, 
with sealing the letters of visitation of the canons regular, 4d. &c. 
And in expenses of the prior at the general chapter held at Leicester, 
this year, 48.?. 2d. &c. And in payment for beds of the servants of 
the archdeacons of Oxfordshire and Bucks, stopping all night at the 
inn of John Fletcher once, 2d. &c. And in all kinds of expenses 
of brother Richard Albon, at Sterisbrugge fair, with three horses 
going and returning, to buy sundry provisions, &c. for five days 
this year, 125. 6d. &c. — Sum 61. 15s. gd. 

Expenses against the parishioners of Stratton for burial there. 
And in gift to Master John Garton, the prior's proctor, against the 
same, 3s. Ad And in the expenses of John Baldwyn, of London, to 
confer with Master William Howper for taking counsel in the same 
matter, before the feast of St. Osith the Virgin, this year, 20a?, 
And in the expenses of the prior there for seven days, to prosecute 
the same cause, 40s. 8d. &c. And in the expenses of John Sale- 
man, carrying rabbits, capons, and other victuals (o the prior whilst 
he was there, \2d. And in gift to the servant of the rector of 
Wycheford, bringing good news concerning the same cause, on 
the day of St. Theodore, 20d. And in gift to Thomas Bekyng- 
ham, on the day of St. Katherine the Virgin, the prior's attorney, 
before the Bishop of Worcester, in the same cause, 20s. And in 
the expenses of the Rector of Whyccheford, at London, for four 
days, with two horses, before the same bishop, to confer about the 
same cause, Js. Sd. &c. And in Richard Boteler riding to Lon- 
don, at the feast of St. Mary Magdalen, to inquire concerning the 
coming of the aforesaid bishop to Burcestre, touching the same 
cause, 20d. And in gifts to the four servants of Thomas Becky ng- 
ham aforesaid, when he was before the aforesaid bishop, to hear 
judgement given by the aforesaid bishop, on the morrow of St. 
Anne, the mother of Mary, concerning the two bodies which were 
buried in the chapel of Stratton, which were to be taken up again 
and brought to Burcestre j and concerning the reparation of other 
injuries clone to the prior and his convent by the tenants there, 
6s. 8d. And in gift to Thomas Somerton, at the same time, for 
counsel, 6s, 8d. And in sundry victuals, &c. 2?s. 5d. And in gift 



246 



APPENDIX. 



to the aforesaid bishop at that time pronouncing the aforesaid 
judgement, 6L 13s. Ad. And in gifts to his clerks and gentlemen 
at that time, 46s. 8a?.— Sum 161. 15s. gd. 

Gifts of the prior. And in gift to a certain Carmelite brother 
preaching at Burcestre before the feast of St. Luke the Evangelist, 
this year, 3s. 4d. And in gifts to the prior's servants cleaning the 
fish-pond near the mill, before the same feast, 6d. And in gift to 
a certain harper at the same feast, this year, 8d. And in gift to a 
certain boy of London, permitted to be a canon, before the feast of 
All Saints, 6d t And in gift to a certain man of Chestreton at the 
same feast, who brought to the priory a certain deer which strayed 
from it 3 2d. And in gift to a certain minstrel of the Lord Lestraunge 
at the same feast, 12d. And in gift to a certain servant belonging to the 
forest, who brought venison to the prior on the morrow of the same 
feast, \2d. &c. And in gifts. to sundry persons playing at football 
on the feast of St. Katherine, Virgin and Martyr, 4a?. &c. And in 
eight woodcocks bought and given to the Lady Lestraunge on the 
eighth day after Epiphany, I2d. And in gift to the shepherd of 
Crockwell on the day of St. Valentine the Martyr, 2d. And in 
gifts to the messenger of the Lord Bishop of Lincoln on the day of 
Saints Perpetua and Felicia, 20d. And in one pair of gloves bought 
and given to Master Thomas Beckyngton, 20d. And in twelve 
pairs of gloves bought and given to sundry men of the Bishop of 
Worcester, 5s. And in gifts for distribution to the poor on sup- 
per-day this year, 3s. Qd. And in gifts to two shepherds, 2c?. &c. 
And in gift to the minstrel of the Lord Tallebotte on the feast of 
St. Edburg the Virgin, 12c/. And in gifts to John Donesmore and 
other tenants and parishioners of Missenden to repair the bell there, 
6s. Sd. And in gifts to two servants belonging to the forest, who 
brought venison to the prior on the feast of the Dedication of the 
Church this year, 5s. And in two pair of best hose given to the 
same at ihat time, 20d. And in sundry gifts to the poor at various 
times, as appears by a paper this year, 2s. Ad. — Sum 53s. Jd. 

Sum total of all the aforesaid expenses ^218 9 2|, 

And thus the receipts exceed the expenditure sB 55 12 0|. 



APPENDIX. 24? 



No. VI. 



Lease of ike Manor of Nun s Place, granted by the 
Prioress and Nuns of Merkyate to John Gryf 
fyth, 22 Hen. VIII. 

Thys indentyr made the syx and twenty day of May the yer of 
the reygn off Kyng Henry the viij. the two and twenty -, between 
Dame Jane Souche, Pryoresse of the monasterye of Merkeyate, 
and the nonnes of the same monasterye, of the oon p'tye and John 
Gryffyth, gentylman, s'nt to the Lord Cardynall on the other 
p'tye. Wytnessyth that the said pryoresse and nonnes, by their 
own assent, consent, and agreement, be taken, granted, and to 
ferme letten to the seyd John, hys executours and assygnes, all 
ther man r , londe, and ten'ts, rentys, statys, and meds meddows, 
londs and pasturs, with their app'tynn'es lyyng and beyng yn 
townes and felds of Burcester, alias Burestir, called the Nunnes 
Place, or by what soever other name or names they be called, ex- 
cept and reserving to the seyd pryoresse and to her successors, 
both of the wards and releyvs and halfe of the courts there: to have 
and to hold all the foresayd man r , londs, and ten'ts, and other the 
p'mysses, with ther app'tynn'es except before expressed, to the 
seyd John Gryffyth, hys executours and assygnes, for the terme of 
twenty-oon y'rs, fully to be complete and endyd, the t'me to begyn 
at the feste of Seynt Mychyll th' Archangell, whych shall be yn 
the yer of our Lord God a thousand five hundredth thyrte and 
fyve, or else to begyne and take effect at any tyme betwen the date 
of thyesp'ntes and the seyd feste of Seynt Mychyll th' Archan- 
gell, when so ev r yt shall happen the p'mraisses to come to the 
hands or possessyon of the seyd pryoress or her successors by for- 
fetur, resygnac'on, surrendre, g'unte, by reco'ry or act'on tryed,or 
by any other means, and so to contynewe to th'ende and terme of oon- 
and-twenty yers, then next foloyng and fully to be endyd, yeldyng 
and payeng the for'd yerly to the said pryoresse and convent, and 
to their successours, ten marks good and lawful money of Inglond, 



248 



APPENDIX. 



at too tymes of the yer, thatys to sey at the feste of th' Annuncya- 
c'on of our Lady and Seynt Mychyll thArchangell, by evyn por- 
cyons or wythyn twenty days next aftr end'g of the seyd feste 
duryng the seyde fine. And yt ys coven'ntyd and agreed betwen the 
seyd p'tyes that the seyd John Gryffyth, hys executours or as- 
sygness shall yerly pay to the seyd pryoresse and to her successours 
the moyte or halffendels of all such wards, relyvs, p'ynrnts of 
courts so before excepted and resyrved to the said pryoresse as shall 

come to ther hands other by destryes s'nte of the or other- 

wyse may come to ther hands, and yt is coven'ntyd and agreed 
betwen the seyd partyes that yff the said John Gryffyth or his as- 
sygnees do bryng the seyd rents wythyn the twenty days at any 
time as ys aforeseyd to the seyd monasterye, and ther pey the 
seyd rent, then the said John Gryffyth and his assynees shall 
have allowed him for the bryngyng toward hys labour and costs 
ev'y yer twenty-pence good money. And yff the seyd rent be 
not brought as ys afforesaid, but that the seyd pryoresse and her 
successours be dryven to send for the seyd rent, that then the seyd 
John or hys executours or assygnes shall pay for the cost and charge 
of the messengers so comyng for the rent for as long tyme as he 
shall tary for the same rent, and so yerly as often as the seyd rent 
shall so happen to be unpaid during the seyd tyme. And also yt 
ys conuen'ted and grantyd that vff the seyd John Gryffyth, his ex- 
ecutours or assygness for nonreceypte of the seyd wards, releyvs, or 
pym'nts of courts or for the recovry of the same be dryven to 
dyst'ess or to any other acc'n yn the lawe that the pryoress or her 
successours shall contynnually half the charge for the recovry of 
the same as oft as need requires during the seyd time. And the 
seyd half expence yerly shall be alowyd to the seyd John or his 
assygnees at the accompte, and yt is further agreed that yf the rent 
often marks happen to be behynd onpaid yn part or yn all after the 
6eyd fests aforseyd, by the space of 12 weeks next after any of the 
seyd fests during the seyd time that then yt shall be lawful for the 
seyd pryoresse to reent* into the said p'mysses or any part thereoff, 
and that to repossess and have agen, and the seyd John Gryffyth, 
his executours and assygness utterly to expelle, amove, and put- 



APPENDIX. 249 

ought, thys indentyr yn any wise notwithstanding. And it. is 
coven'ntyd and agreed between the seyd pryoresse and John that 
the seydpryoresse and her successors shall avow and maynlen all 
such actions as shall fortune to be taken yn ther names agenst the 
occupy'res of the p'mysses at the costts and charges of the seyd John 
and his assygnes at any time between the dat of thys p'ntes and the 
seyd yer off our Lord God a thousand five hundred and thyrty and 
fyve, and the action or actions they shall not dyscharge nor dyscon- 
tyne without the assent, consent, and agreement of the seyd John 
Gryffyth, his executors or assygnees, and all such recoveryes of the 
premysses with the costs and damyges of the same, the seyd prioress 
shall suffer the seyd John Gryftyth, his executors and assygnees to 
take receyve and levye to their own use and p'ffytt, and thus 
recey'ed and had, then the seyd John GryfTyth with the profytte 
of the same costs and damages to repayer and amend the said 
p'mysses in rep'tiones, and the p'myses so repayred to kepe well 
and sutfy'ently repayred, and so to be kept. And the seyd John 
g'antyth for him, his executors and assygnees, that they shall fynd 
and br'ng to the receyvor of the seyd prioress and their servants 
yerly when they come to receyve the rents and proffyt of the 
p'mysses, horsemete, mannysmete, and lodging, so they tarry ther 
too days and too nights yn the yer. In witnesse wherofe to the 
oon p'teof thys "mdentur remaynyng yn the kepyng of the said John 
Gryffyth, the seyd pryoress and convent hath put ther comen sealej 
to the oder part of this indentur remaynyng yn the custodye of the 
seyd pryoresse and convent, the seyd John have putte his scale, 
Geven in theChapt r -house of the seyd monastrie, under the Chapt 1 ' 
aforeseyd, the day and yer aboveseyd l . 

Seal appending — A lady seated on a throne bearing a large cru- 
cifix on her breast. Underneath a nun kneeling, her arms in the 
attitude of prayer, with an imperfect inscription in Roman capitals. 

3 Ex orig. penes Johan. Coker, avmlger. 



APPENDIX. 



No VII. 



Valuation of the Possessions &c. of Bicester Priory 9 
by the Commissioners at the Visitation of the Mo- 
nasteries. 1535. 27 Hen. VIII. 

WifhSs Brown ¥ l o\\ 

Prioratus de Burcestur' in com' Oxon' infra Dioc' Lincoln' et 

Decanal ejusd'm. 

Valor oniif Man'iofc Terrafc et Ten'tofc R'coria*. Pensionu Por- 

c'onu ac cet'ofc Possession^* tam sp'ual' q a m temporal' predict' 

Priorat* pertinenc' ut sequit r . 

In primis de Margeria Coplande pro hospicio le Bell cu~ 
molend' infra diet' priorat' cu~ terris et clausuris cu~ 
suispertin' utp3 per indentur' sibidimiss' per annu vj iiij — 

D' Ric'o Banaster gentilman pro una claus' jux a p'orat' 

predict' sibi dimiss' utpat3 per indentur' per annu" — xj — 

D' Joh'e Lambo r ne pro clausura de Crockwell una cu~ 
domo columbar' ut pat3 per indentur' sibi dimiss' 
per annu — xiij — 

D' quindecim tenentibs custumarijs vid3 pro cotag' in 

eadem villa tenent' ad volunt' dfii redditib3 per annu iiij xij iiij 

D' Joh'e Bodycotte de Burcestr' predict' pro le Lampe 
Acrejacen' in quodam prato vocato Demayne Mede 

sic sibi dimiss' per annu~ — — xij 

S'ma xiij x iiij 

D' terris quondam dfiicalib3 monast'ij pred'ei et jam 
ad firmam dimiss' in le hamlett vocat' le Wrechewyk 
in parocbia de Burcestr' predict' ad firmam dimiss' 
per indentur' pro t'mino annofc hijs ho'ib5 sequen- 
tib3. 

D' Joh'e Lamborne pro duab3 clausuris in eodem 
hamleto et pro ijt>3 pec' prati in le Kyngesende in 
parochia predict' per annu iiij xvii iiij 



APPENDIX. 251 

D' Joh'e Bodycotepro ijt>3 claus' ib'm cumdi' virgat' 
terr* jacen' in campo de Blackthorn in parochia pre- 
dict' per annu* — . . iij — — 

D' Joh'e Maunde pro una claus' sub'silva ib'm vocat' 

le Gravenhu.il per annu iiij xiij iiij 

D' Joh'e Nashe pro ten'to ib'm cum di' virgat' terre 

cu~ pertin' per annu' — vj viij 

D' ux'e nuper Willi' Walker pro ten'to cum terris et 
claus' cu" pertin' sic sibi dimiss' per indentur' per 
annu -— xxxiij iiij 

D' Nich'o White pro clausura vocat' le Ov'breche 

per annu sic sibi dimiss' iiij — — . 

D' Will'mo Bosworthe pro ten'to ib'm tent' ad vo- 

lunt' dui cum pertin' per annu" — - vj viij 

F terris jacen' in le campo de le Blakthorne inter te- 
nentes sive inh'itantes ejusd'm man'ij per balliu' 

diet' prions annuati' dimiss' per annu iij vj viij 

S'ma recept'.. ., xxij iiij — 

Deducco'es et Resoluco'es ejusd'm Monastery sing'lis annis 
imperp'm solvend' exeunt' de.t'ris et ten'ts sup*dict\ 

D' quad a m penco'e abbat' et convent' de Osney et suc- 

cessoribu3 suis annuati' et imperp'm solvend' .... iij -— . — 

Solut' dn o de Bygenhull pro uno ten'to in fine regali 

ville de Burcestr' predict' per annu" — — xx 

Solut' vicecomit' Oxon' pro lecastell' fee per annu — iiij — 

Solut' dn~o principi pro sect' cur' relaxand' apud Bur- 

cestre predict* per annu* — vj viij 

Solut' archidiaconato Oxon' pro procuraco'ibs et sino- 

dalib5 eccl'iafc Burcestr' pred'ee per annu — x vij ob' 

P' pane et vino ad missas quotidianas selebrand' pro 
egrot' et mulieribj p'ngnat 8 et in festo S'ce Pasche 
pro om'ibs inh'itantib5 ut pat3 per composico'em 
inde fact' per annu~ — xx -— 

Solut' ball'io vid3 Joh'i Nashe de man'ijsde Burcestr* 
et Wrechwyk pro feodo suo per annu — xl — 



252 APPENDIX, 

Elimosina dat 7 , 

Pro ai'a Gilbarti Bassot fundatoris pred'c'i monast'ij in 
distribuco*ib3et elemosinis parochianis Burcestr' pre- 
d'ce singulis annis solvend' et imperp'm ut plen s pat5 
per cartam fundatoris sui pred'ci vj — xx 

Eiimosina data. 
It'm in cena dm vid3 Sherthursday om'ib5 et aliis pau- 
perib3 sive leprosis ad tunc co~venientib3 in pane 
portu piscib3 et pecunijs annuati' et imperp'm • -xiij — iiij 

S'ma deducc'ois xii xiij xj ' 

Stratton Awdeley in com' Oxon^ et infra Dioc' Lincoln'. 

D'Edwardo Denton et Thoma Denton gent' pro tent 3 
t'ris et decimis r'corieib'm illis per indenturam di- 

miss' per annu xvj — - 

S'ma recept' xvj — — 

Deduc'oes et Resoluc'oes ib'm. 

Solut' dno abbat' de Eynsham pro quadam penc'oe 
ea&dem decimal pred'cafc ut pat3 compositionem 

imperp'm inde fact' per annu~ *< — xvj — 

S'ma alloc* — xvj — 

Dadyngton Clyston et Hempton in Com' Oxon' infra Dioe^ 
Lincoln' et Decanat' de Dadyngton. 

D' ux'e Simonis Mannyng pro Armaria de Clyston 
et molend' adjacent' cu suis pertin' sibi dimiss' per 
indenturam pro t'io annofc per annu* x — — 

D' Thoma Bryce de et pro uno ten'to in Dadyngton 
predict' cu~ pertin' sibi dimiss' per indenturam pro 
t'io annofc per annif — Ij vj 

D'redditib3 tarn lib'ofc tenenc' qm custumar' ib'm per 

annu xix viij viij b> 

Sm'a recept' ,....,... xxxij — ij ob» 



APPENDIX. 253 

Deduce' oes et Resolusiones ib'm 
Solut' dfio Regi pro quiet' reddit' exeunt' de molendino 

de Clyston per annu~ — - ij viij 

Solut' dfio abbat' de Eynsham pro decimis in man'io 
de Cliston exeunt' ut pat5 per compos' inde fact' per 

annu — xvj — 

Elimosina data 
In distribuc'oibs et elemosinis in diet' parochia de 
Dadyngton sc'd'm antiquas ordinaco'es prius usitat' 
pro ai'a Willi* Hayly benefactoris imperp'm et 

annuatf — ij vj 

Sokat' Laurencio Ov'ton ball'io n'ro in predicto man'io 

pro feodo suo per annu* — xxvj viij 

Sm'a deduec'ois ib'm — xlvij x 

Kyrtlyngton et Tackley in Com' p'd' Dioc* Lincoln'. 

D* Joh'e Cokks bailio et collector' redd'us ib'm qam 

lib'ofc tenenc' q'm custumar' ib'm per annu" .... viij xiiij iiij 

D' Joh'e Andrewes pro uno molendino aquatico sibi 
dimiss' pro t'mno annos solubil' ad iiij°f anni t'ios 
canon icis Burcestr' pred'ee in distribucoib3 Deo 

s'vientibs imperp'm per annu iij yj viij 

Sra'a recept'. xij — xij 

Deducc'oes et Resoluc'oes ib'm Elimosina. 

F ai'a Nich'i Baker benefactoris monast'ij pred'ei dat* 
est canonic 6 ejusd'm Joci Deo s'vient' pro exequiis 
ad iiij or anni t'ios exequen 9 pro ejus ai'a et om'iu* 
defunctos in elimosinis an tim et imperp'm iij vj viij 

Solut' dno Regi pro quiet' reddit' eertas terrafc et ten*- 
to^ cu* molendino aq a ico ib'm per annif et imper- 
p'm • • • — — xxj 

Solut' d£o priori Cartuens* jux a Coventre pro porco'e 
ib'm prout pj per compos' inde fact' per annu" et 

Imperp'm , « — lj _«. 

Sm'a deduce'ois, .,,...,,..,..— Iij is 



254 APPENDIX. 

Arnecote in com' Oxon* et in hundr' de Bolyndon infra Dioc* 
Lincoln' et Decanat 5 &c. 

De Thoma Marshe tenent' ib'm pro ij bus messuagijs 
et (rib5 virgat 9 terre cu~ quart'na terre cu~ pertin' sibi 
dimiss' pro t'mno annofc per annu — xxx — 

Solut' dco p'iori per tenentes ib'm pro le Hedsylver 

in dnico predicto per annu" — — xviij 

D' redditib3 in predicto Arnecott tam lib'ox tenenc' 
q a m custumar* recept' et precept' per Joh'em 

Cokks ib'm balliv' per annu' . . „ — lvij vi 

S'ma recept' iiij ix - — 

Deducc'oes et E.esoluc'oes ib T m. 

Solut* balli'o hundr' de Bolyndon vidj EdwardoKyng 

pro omn' sv'ic' in Arnecote pred'et per annu~. ... — — • xij 

S'ma deduce' — — xij 

Et rem' iiij viij — 

StepleAstonincom' predicto infra Dioc' Lincoln' etdecan'&c. 

D' Roberto Parsons pro uno messuagio et cert' t'ris 
ib'm cu~ pertin' ad firmara dimiss' per indentura"* pro 
t'mio anncfc per annu — xij iiij 

Middylton in com' predic'o et dioc' Lincoln' ac Decanat' &c. 

D' Egidio Reede gentilman pro uno messuagio cu 
terris et suis pertin' ad firmam sibi dimiss' per in- 
dentura~ pro t'io anncip. per annu — x — 

Wendylbury in Corn' pred'eo et pred'eo Dioc' et Decanat' &c. 

De Joh'e Brice pro uno cotagio cu cert 9 t'ris cu" suis 
pertin' sibi dimiss' per indentura" pro t'ioannoj per 
annu • — x 

Chesterton in com' pred'e'o. 
D' Joh'e Hyde pro cert 9 terris ib'm pro copiam cur* 
per annu • — v 



APPENDIX. 255 



Fryngford in Com' predVo. 

D' Joh'e Arden gent* pro cert' terris in ead'm villa 

pro quiet' reddit 5 per annu* %..,.....,.— ij — 

S'ma rec' — lxx iiij 

Hayford Waren 5 in com 5 predVo et dioc 5 Lincoln' &c. 

D' Novo Collegio in Oxon' pro terris firmar* eidem 
collegio pertin' vid3 pro penco'e ut pat 5 per com- 
posicione~ per annif et imperp'ra — xxvj viij 

Cav'felde in com' predVo infra Dioc 5 Lincoln 5 et Decanat 5 &c. 

D' Ric'o Langeston armig'o pro die' man'ij de Cav'- 
felde predict* sibi et heredib5 suis dimiss' per in- 
dentura' solubil' ad ij 0i an' t'minos per annu~. . , . — liiij iiij 

Samford in Com 5 predVo Dioc 5 Lincoln 5 &c. 

D' firmario ib'm pro uno messuagio et una virgat* 
terre cu~ pertinen' solubil' tarn ad fra Sc'i Mich'is 
canonic 5 Deo s'vient' in augmentac'oe stipendiofc 

suois. per annu ^ — • v — 

S'ma rec\ . iiij v — ■ 

Deductiones et Resoluco'es ib'm Elemosina Dat' 

F ai'a Godfridi de Bygenhull b'nfactoris mon' pred'ei — vj — 
qui dedit canonic' pr>o salterio davitico dicent' in ejus 
adv~s sing'lis eox per se dicent' separati in elemos' eis 
distribuend' annuati' et imperp'm^, . . (in to°per annu) — — ■ v 

Buckenhull in com 5 predVo et Dioc 5 Lincoln' &c. 

D' Rob'to Stephens pro cert 5 terris arrabilib3 ib'm 

per annu" e . . . , m* v •*» 

S'ma recept' # ....... . -*• v «■» 



256 APPENDIX. 

Feod' Annual' Deducc'oes et Resoluc'oes 

Solut' Joh'i Cokks de sup a d'c'is terris pro collecto'e 

redditus villatafc sup a d'cax per annu~ — xxvj viij 

Sm'a alloc' — xxvj viij 

Ardyngton in Com' Berk' et infra Dioc' Sar' et Decan' &c. 

D' Thoma Hobbes pro cert 8 terris et r'coria' ib'ra sic 

sibi dimiss' per indentura~ ad t'mios annox per annu xiiij — — 

In eodem Com' Berk'. 

D' eodem Thoma Hobbes pro firmario n'ro apud 
Letcombe Bassett perindentura' sic sibi dimiss' pro 

t'mino annofc per annu* iiij — — 

Sra'a rec' xviij — — 

Resoluc'oes ib'm null' 

Grymesbury jux a Banbury in com' North a mpt' et infra dioc* 
Lincoln' ac Decanat, &c. 

D' Anthonio Cope armig'o firmario man'ij ib'm cir 
firma molendinofc et aliofc profic' eidem man'io per- 
tin' sic sibi dimiss' pro t'io annofc per annu .... xiij vi viij 

Sm'a rec' ut p- 

Nethrope in Com' pred'c'o et infra Dioc' Lincoln' &c. 

D' Henrico Taye et Will'mo Smyihe de eadem te- 
nentib3 ib'm per copia~ cur' de \]b^ mesuagijs solu- 
bil' ad ij°s anni t'ios canonic' in distribuc'oib3 Deo 

s'vientib5 annuati' et imperp'm - - xxxij — • 

Sm'a rec' p> 

Deducc'oes et Resoluc'oes ib'm in Elemosinis. 

P' ai'a Will'i Hayly benefactoris n'ri pred'ci mon" 
dat' est canonic' pro una collect' quotidiana dicend* 
ad missam B'te Marie Virginis celebrant* vid3 i«- 



APPENDIX. 257 

tlina d'ne aurem &c. solubil' at iiij or anni t'i'os dis- 

tribuend' per man' prions ib'm annuati' et imperp'm — xxxij — 

Beamonde jux a Myssenden in com' Buk' etdioc' Lincoln' &c. 

D' Henrico Honoure firmario ib'm man'ij cu~ perfin' 
unacufirma rc'orie sic sibi dimiss' per indenturam 
pro t'mino annofc per annu~ xiij vj viij 

D' subboscis ib'm crescent' infra domin' predc'm esti- 
mat' videl't ev'y xij th yere per vicinos et honestos 
ho'ies ib'm inh'itantes ad valenc' sex librae et quo- 

lib't anno estimaf per annu quolib't anno xij 

S'ma recept* xiij vj viij 

Deducc'oes et Resoluc'oes ib'm. 

Solut' dno abb'i de Magna Myssenden pro man'io de 
Arnecote prout p3 per composic'o'em inde fact' 
annuati' et imperp'm vj xiij iiij 

It'm solut' archidiac' Buk' pro procurac'o'e et sino- 
dalib3 eccl'ie de P'va Myssenden annuati' et im- 
perp'm — x viij 

Solut' in eadem parochia in distribuc'o'ib5 et elemos' 
s'ed'm antiquas ordinac'o'es inde fact'et prius usitat' 
ad duos anni t'm'nos per annu~ et imperp'm ..... — vj viij 
S'ma alloc' vel deduce' vij x viij 

Wescott in com' Buk' et dioc' Lincoln' &c. 

D' Joh'e Latham firmario ib'm cert s terris et ten't 8 

sibi dimiss' per indenturam pro t'i'o annofc per annu iiij x — 

Blakenhull in com' Buck' pred'e'o et dioc'. 

D' Joh'e Goodwyn gentilman firmario uni s claus* pas- 
lur' sibi dimiss' per indenturam pro t'm'no annofc 
per annu t — xx — 

Compton Bassett in com' Wiltes' et dioc' Sar'. 

D' r'c'ore ib'm pro quadam pensio'e solubil' ad duos 
anni t'm'nos prout p3 per composic'o'em inde fac- 
tam per annu 1 , iiij — • — 



258 APPENDIX. 

Stodeley in com' pred'co dioc'. 

D' mag'ro Hung'ford pro reddit' uni s ten'ti cu~ pertin' 
adjacen' in dicto com' Wiltes' per annu vij s tamen 
pred'c'us magister Hung'ford negat soluc'o'em inde 

(Sed salvo jure monastery pred'c'i) 
S'ma rec* ix x — 

Terr' Dnicales Monast'ij pred'ci in manibs Prions jam ex- 
isten* in Burcestr' &c. cu Decimis. 

In terris arrabilib3 ib'm vid3 undecim virgat' terre cu~ 
suis pertin' jacen' in campis Le M'kett ende diet' 

| Burcestr' jacent' continent 8 cciiij xx et vj acres ad 

iiij d qnalib't acra per annu . iiij xv iiij 

It'm in terris arrabil ib3 vid3 di' virgat' t're jacent' in 
Le Kyngesende continent' quindecim acres cu~ surs 
pertin' ad qualib't acra per annu iiij d ..— v — 

In terris arrabilib3 videl't una pecia terre jux a portam 
Le Graunge continent' duodecim acr' ad qualib't 
acra iiij d per annu — iiij — 

It'm in terris arrabilib3 in le hamlett' de Wrechwyk 
in parochia die'e Burcestr' vid3 ij virgat' terre et di' 
continent' iij xx acr' et quindecim cu quinque lez 
butts cu~ suis pertin' ad qualib5 acra per a m per annu" 

iiij d — xxv x 

S'ma acras arrabil' xx xx j et v butts 

S'ma valoris ea&d'm acrajs. arrabil' vj x ij 

In una separali pastura vocat' leWynt' pasture ducent' 
v'sus le Gravenhull continent' xliiij acres et di' in 
trib3 p'tib3 separati' cu sepib5 ad qualib't acr 3 v d . — xviij vj ob. 

In una separal' pastura vocat' le "Weston Heyes cu" 
sepe in medio ejusd'm pastur' cont' xlj acres et di' 
qualib't acra ad xix d per annu* iij v viij 

It'm in al' pastura separal' voc' le Ov'breche cont' xl 
acres qualib't acra viij d per annu* , — xxvj viij 



APPENDIX. 259 

In una pecia prati jacen' in le Westmede conf quinqj 

acr' et di' ad qualib't acra ij s per annu — xj — 

It'm in una separaP pastur' vocat' le Horsse Close prope 

monast'iu~ cont' septem acr' et di' qualib't acra ad 

viij d per annu — v — 

S'raa valoris acra£ predic'afc . . . . vj vj xj 
It'm in quodam prato vocat' Longford Mede cont' 

iiij 01 ' acr' qualib't acr' xij d per annu — iiij — 

In ead'm prato vid3 Longford Mede iiij acr' qualib't 

acr' ad xvj d per annu . . . . , — v iiij 

It'm in quodam campo vocat' Blakthorne Felde cont' 

ij acr' prati qualib't acr' ad viij d per annu — — - xvj 

S'ma — x vij 

S'ma terr* dnic' 
S'ma valoris oniu acrafc. dnical' cu dec'is et terris ar- 

rabilib3 ib'm xiij vij ix 

Tot s cxlix xvj — ob'q' 

It'm proprijs x mi s terr' dnic xxvj ix ob'q* clj ij x 

s€ ckxviij xj vij ob'. 

Feod' Annual'. 

Solnt' Ric'o Banaster armig'o pro offic' senescalli per 

annu — liiij iiij 

Solut' Xp'ofero Hucvale auditor' nro pro ejus feodo 

per annu~ — xxvj viiij 

S'ma alloc' iiij — — 

Joh'es Middleton subp ! or ib'm 
Will'm's Fynche sexten 
Will'm's Cav'felde sellerar' 

Non h'entes aliquas terras neqj ten't' nee offic' in 
monast'io predic'o in successione neq; vad' feod* 
aut annual' stipend' nisi ad voluntate~ prions. 

Noia Canonico^ in dicto Mori' vidj. 

Will'm's Browne priour ib'm. 
Joh'es Middleton subprior ib'm. 
s2 



2&> APPENDIX. 

Rad'us Latham canon ib'm. 

Rob'tus Bigcell. 

Joh'es Chester. 

Kobt'us Cav'felde. 

Jacobus Brystowe. 

Joh'es Burcestur. 

Joh'es Lan'nton. 

Ric'us Wodstok. 

Nich'us Cony. 

Will'm's Hampton. 
Deduct' xxxj viij ix ob' 
The sume of the hole Possession sp'uall and temporall 

demaynes and other is clxxvj vij — ob' 

The sume of the deduccions and resolucons is . . xxxix viij vjob'q* 
The hole sume declar' is cxlvij ij x 

Decima pars dno Regi xiiij xiiij iij ob' 

We the seide prior and co'vent of the seide priory 
mooste humbly besecbe the Kyng's moste Graci- 
ouse Highnes and his moste honourable councell, 
thut thois sumes and chargis herafter foloyng may Fiat Petic'o 

be alloued, which chargis byn annuall and perpe- 
tually, and for no lesse necessitie then the fees and 
charg s of auditours, receyvours, and bailyfTs and 
other chargis as hereafter foloithe 

Furste for brede wyne and wax erely spente withyn 
the seide priory, aboughte the dyvyne s'vice accord- 
ing to their foundacion vj — — 

It'm for the costs and charges of the auditor and re- 

ceyvour gen'all in the audite tyme vj xiij iiij 

It'm the same prior desirethe allouanc' of the visita- 
co'n of the bishopp ev'y iii ,,e yere iij 1 vj s viij d 
which is yerely ev'y yere — xxij ij b'q' 

It'm for the cost s cliarg 8 and expenc 8 of the same 
bishop and his officers and menyall servants, in and 

at the tyme of visitac'on ev'y iij ls yere vj xiij iiij 

which is xliiijs. i'njd. yerly. . . . cxlvij vj xjq' 



APPENDIX. 



26l 



By the same Commissioners under the Article Com' Oxon* 
Lincoln' Dioc' et Decanat' Burcest', Valores otnn' et sin- 
g'lojp R'c'oria^ Vicaria^ P'bendar' Caiitarifc et aliajp Pos- 
session^ tarn Sp'ual' qaam Temporal' infra Dioc' et De- 
canat'^ is the following entry : — 

Burcest' 
Peres Griffith vicarius perpetuus et vicaria sua valet 
per annu~ cum repris' co'ib3 annis ex recognic'o'e 

sua super sacr'm suu xvj — — 

P'or et convent' ib'm app^ator ejusd'm et infra p'orat' 

predict' on'ant 1 " pro eodem infra p'oratu~ predict' comp r 

S'ma. xvj — — 

Et reman' clar' pats 

Alloc' null' 

Decima pars duo Regi , ■ — xxxij ' — 

No. VIII. 

Extracts from the Church-war dens' Acco*unts\ and the 
Kings Books, 

The Church-wardens' Bills of the reign of Elizabeth are chiefly 
without dates, and written on long slips of paper. The following 
is a specimen of the entries in that of the year 1582. 

Paide for ij new lockes xv'id. 

for mending of a locke ijd. 

for nay ies ,, 

Paide to John Pol lex the nynth day of December vij. xjd. 

jryven unto father Joilide xijrf. 

gy ven to John Potter 23 /\prile xxvrf. 

Given unto Margyret Brown on the day of her marriage 2 ij.?,, 

Payde for the stoppyng of the Town Erook 

Given unto a preacher 2Qd, 

1 From the Valor Ecclesiasticus, vol. ii. p. 187. Lond. 1814. 

? Probably she was pregnant, and the sum given as a marriage portion. 



262 APPENDIX. 

Given unto Rd Godard at his marriage ijrf. 

Payd for mending father Harris's hose yjr/. 

It is uncertain how long the parish officers continued the prac- 
tice of keeping their accounts on long slips of paper ; but their pre- 
sent book commences with the year 17O8, and contains few entries 

of public interest. 

£. 5. a. 

1708. Pd for casting the third bell, 31b. of metal added 7 3 9 

Pd for three hedgehogs, one fox, and a polecat ........ 2 2 

Pd the dog-whipper's wages . . , 8 8 

1711. Apparitor's fees 2 2 

For processioning charges 1 19 10 

Clerk's wages 2 

1714. For casting the fifth bell and clapper for her 10 16 6 

1716. Pd for the expenses of the pennance of Eliz. Wootton . . 3 8 

1717, Pd for six leather buckets 1 10 O 

1720. Pd for thirteen doz. sparrows 2 2 

1736. Pd for a new church bible 2 7 6 

1 744. Pd for mending the basoon 16 3 

1766. Allowed at the vestry by the parishioners towards mend- 
ing the chimes •• 14 

Mem. 24 Feb. 1771. At a vestry held this day it is agreed by 
the inhabitants of Bicester Market-end and King's-end, that 
an annual subscription be made to the Oxford or Radcliffe In- 
firmary, of three guineas per annum, and the same to be paid 
yearly by the church-wardens for the time being. 

John Stevens, Robert Shirley, &c. 
1772. Payd Isaac Clarke, Osmond, and T. Stratton, due on ba- 
lance for the organ „ , 8 3 

king's books 5 . 

Burchester is a discharged living. 

Clear yearly value s€ 4g. 

Burchester vulgo Bister, V. St. Edburgh Pri., Burches:er 

Propr. Sir John Glynn, Bart., 17 1 9. Sir Edward Turner, Bart., 

J 752. Sir Gregory Turner, Bart., 1779. 

King's Books §£$ 16. 

+ 1. 1 1 1 1 ■ — ■ — — ■ ' . ■ ■ • 

3 By J. Bacon, Esq. London 1786. 



APPENDIX. 263 

No. IX. 

Bicester*, Oxfordshire. 

At a numerous and respectable Meeting of the Inhabitants of this 
Town and Neighbourhood, held at the Town Kail in Bicester on 
the 8th day of January, 1793, 

John Coker, Esq. in the chair, 

The following Resolutions were unanimously approved of and 
agreed to. 

1st. That the late daring attempts of many disaffected and sedi- 
tious persons, who by the publication of libels and by treasonable 
combinations have endeavoured to subvert the established govern- 
ment of this country, and to introduce into it all the miseries of 
anarchy and confusion, have given occasion of much alarm and 
serious apprehension. 

2d. That under such circumstances it is the duty of all good 
subjects to come forward and to declare their detestation of such 
practices, and to interpose their efforts for the preservation of the 
tranquillity and safety of the community. 

3d. That the inhabitants of the town and neighbourhood of Bi- 
cester are truly and zealously attached to the present constitution 
and legislative power of this country, consisting of king, lords, and 
commons. 

4th. That they do acknowledge and approve of the timely, judi- 
cious, and vigorous measures pursued by the executive power at 
this critical juncture. 

5th. That they will associate for the purpose of supporting (heir 
said constitution, and defending it to the utmost of their power 
against any violation or attack \ that they will hold out in their 
own practice an example of respectful submission to the laws ; 
that they will use their utmost endeavours to bring to punishment 
all those who by their writings or actions shall attempt to excite 
sedition, or in any manner to disturb the public peace ; and that 
they will be personally assisting to the civil power upon every oc- 
casion that shall require its interference. 



264 



APPENDIX. 



J. Coker 

J. R. Greenhill 

J. Haley 

J. Eyre 

G. Lamb 

J. Leigh Barnet 

Rev. W. Ellis 

Rev. W. E. Ellis 

Rev. E. Turner 

H. Walford 

J. Moore 

T. Potter, jun. 

F. Penrose 
T. Davis 
R. Shirley 
M. Heather 

G. Osmond 
J. Stevens 
R. Johnson 

T. Pardo Brett 
T. King 
T. Westcar 
R. Smith 
T. Potter 
R. Kirby 
T. Reading 
M. Browne 
H. Trafford 
R. King 
W. Painter 
J. Webb 
G. Busby 
W. Westcar 
J. Thonger 
R. Earlom 
J. Poster 
W. Birch 
H. Churchill 
R. Slaney 
R. Kersey 
W. Rogers 
T. Sirett 
J. King 



W. Phillpot 

F. Jennings 
W.Tredwell 
J. Kent 

T, St ration 
W. Phillips 
W. Allen 
J. Kirby 
J. Stopes Clk 

G. Collins 
W. Blunt 
T. Miller 
G. Pavier 
G. Foster 
J. Buruard 
J. Stratton 
W. Potter 
I. Thomas 
T. Bailey 
R. Jessop 

W. Hadland 

W. Cross 

J. Jagger 

G. Foster 

G. Butler 

J. Coles 

J, Shirley 

W. Clarke 

W. Coleman 
T. Kirby 

T. Egevton 
J. Jackson 

T. Harris 

W. Phillips 
W. Beck 

J. Dagley 
T. Foster 
C. Hadland 
W. Bryan 
J. Burroughs 
R. Humphrey 
T. Hawkins 
C. Blunt 



W. Ball 

J. Sanders 
H. Borton 
J. Stratton 
E. Whale 
T. Stopp 
T. Gough 
J. Jessop 
R. Foster 
H. Carter 
J. Dagley 
J. Warr 
S. Bowerman 
T. Stevens 
T. Hicks 

Bicester Band, 
J. Clarke 
T. Blowfield 
W. Shillingford 
R. King 

W. Mapelwhite 
W. Field 
T. Humphrey 
T. Egerton 
W. Foster 
J. Maynard 
E. Humphrey 
J. Blowfield 
J. Burroughs 



J. Humphreys 
J. Busby 
J. Wells 
W. Berry 
A. Brad win 
J. Smith 
W. Watson 
J. Burrows 
E. Tanner 
J. Smith 
T. Watson 
J. Egerton 



APPENDIX, 



265 



H. Coxill 
T. Hicks 
J. Feneroore 
N. Coxill 
R. Dumbleton 
J. White 
W. Rollins 
W. Bos ley 
J. Axtill 
T. Heritage 
J. Mealings 
J. Neal 
T. Humphrey 
T. Hazel 1 
J. Smith 
T. Parrot 
T. Guntriss 
T. Williams 
J. Heritage 
W. Elstone 
W. Holton 
W. Hunt 
J. Wad d up 
A. Brad win 
N. Ward 
J. Elston 
J. Neal 
M. Neal 
E. Foster 
M. Thomas 
W. Foster 
J. Jones 
W.Nevill 
W. Crump 
R. Hand cock 
J. Golden 
J. Holland 
E. Coxill 
J. Nevill 
J. King 
W. Adams 
J. George 



W. Pavier 
W. Inwood 
W. [lodges 
W. Pates 
T. Allard 
W. Izzard 
T. Jennings 
T. Shephard 
W. Butler 
J. Higgs 
W. Coxill 
W. Berry 
R. Grimsley 
R. Jessop 
W. Daws 
W. Spacey 
J. Hazell 
J. Jagger 
R. Bathe 
J. Jones 
W. Tanner 
T. Croxton 
J. Bottrill 
B. Edmunds 
J. Hitchcock 
E. Penrose 
J. Gurden 
T. Franklin 
T. Carthew 
J. Jessop 
R. Maynard 
J. Whale 
J. Hewitt 
T. Stratton 
T. Gibbons 
J. Mewkill 
W. Clifton 
J. Heritage 
T. Hawkes 
R. Gunthriss 
N. Pbulton 
G. Grimsby 



J. Ball 
J. Bowden 
D. Creed 
W. Knibbs 

F. Blewett 
J. Munden 
W. Cox 

J. Heirtage 
W. Whitehead 

G. Spencer 
W. Howse 
T. Lines 

R. Grimsby 
T. Bowden 
W. Jennings 
G. Stevens 
W. Alley 
B. Archer 
W. Barrett 
D. Green 
R. Heritage 
S. Phillips 
T. Petty 
R. King 
T. Wiggs 
J. Travers 
W. Woodcock 
J. Lamb 
J. Williams 
W. A. Leverett 
M. Wick 
T. Pitts 
W. Tooley 
J. Jagger 
D. Creed 
W. Jackson 
J, Stanbridge 
J. Bosley 
J. Clifton 
T. Paxton 
J. Turner 
S. Cartwright 



2bt> 


APPENDIX. 




J. Skinner 


R. Edmunds 


W. Hawkins 


W. Marcey 


J. Westbury 


J. Harris 


T. Bowen 


W. Blencowe 


T. Prior 


P. Crook 


J. Harris 


J. Edwards 


II. Lines 


J. Archer 


W. Pratt 


T. Edwards 


J. Edmonds 


J. Bullock 


J. Marten 


T. Woodcock 


J. Sirett 


J. Kendall 


W. Smith 





To this Instrument of Association the following Declaration of 
the Protestant Dissenters of Bicester was affixed. 

Bicester, January 14, 1793. 

We his majesty's loyal subjects, the Protestant Dissenters of the 
town of Bicester, do cheerfully upon the present occasion make 
public declaration of our constant zealous fidelity and attachment 
to the reigning illustrious House of Hanover, and to the constitution 
of civil government of this country, established at the Revolution in 
the year ] 688 j and we do hereby declare our abhorrence of all 
traitorous speeches and publications, and our readiness to aid the 
civil magistrate in suppressing all seditious attempts to subvert the 
civil government or to disturb the public peace. 

Signed by the consent and direction of the whole congregation, 

William Miller, Minister* 



No.X. 

Sports, Customs, &c. in Bicester and its Neighbour- 
hood. 

Quintal. — In the days of Dr. Plot it was customary at mar- 
riages for the inhabitants of the village of Blackthorn to amuse 
themselves with running at the quintal. The nature of the sport 
is thus described by Kennett : " They set up a roll, or that in- 
strument of agriculture used to break the clods in the field, and at 
the erect end they hang a strong rafter board, which turns on the 



APPENDIX. 26j 

spindle of the roll : to one end of this moving beam or ballance 
they nail a slab or broader piece of thick board, and at the other 
end they hang a leather bag filled with gravel or sand of equal 
poise, which flies round and smites the inexpert rider." 

From his subsequent account we gather, that the player was 
usually on horseback, and funished with a staff or pole, with which 
he struck the slab with all his force. If he was not dexterous and 
his horse swift, he was almost certain of receiving a blow from the 
sand-bag as the rafter turned round — to his own disgrace and the 
merriment of the spectators. This sport has been long discon- 
tinued, and no tradition of its having been ever practised, remains 
among the inhabitants of Blackthorn or its neighbourhood. 

Sports on Shrove Tuesday. — The sports of this day were 
very considerable before the Reformation, and intended as an in- 
dulgence previous to the approaching season of Lent. Their com- 
mencement is still announced by the ringing of f i the pancake 
bell" at eleven o'clock, the ancient hour of dinner. At the first 
sound of this bell the young people formerly left their employ- 
ments, and after a hasty dinner hied away to their varied amuse- 
ments, which consisted in the barbarous practice of thowing at 
cocks, or the more active sports of jumping> wrestling, ringing of 
bells, &c. On this day the parish-clerk still considers himself en- 
titled to the profits arising" from ringing of the bells, and accord- 
ingly they are let by the hour to those who prefer that exercise. 
For a trifling sum others are permitted to walk on the tower or 
on the leads of the church. But though these as well as most 
other amusements exist, so much have they declined of late years 
that at present they are chiefly practised by children, and in a short 
time it is probable they will be discontinued and forgotten. 

May Day. — About a century ago May Day was considered a 
very great holiday in Bicester and its neighbourhood. Both pa- 
rents and children felt highly interested in its pleasures, and parties 
vied with each other to produce the best garland of flowers. A 
little lord and lady decked in gay ribbons and accompanied by 



26*8 APPENDIX. 

several attendants, with small instruments of music, called on thefr 
friends, and went in procession round the town and neighbour- 
hood. The afternoon and evening were spent in the greatest hila- 
rity, and generally concluded wish a dance round the May pole. 
This custom is evidently derived from the heathen festival insti- 
tuted in honour of the goddess Flora, who was imagined to pre- 
side over flowers. It has declined many years, and is now regarded 
by the children of the poor only. 

Writsun-Ales are of remote origin, and, in common with 
church-ales, clerks ales, &c. formed one of the chief amusements 
of the middle ages. The object of this entertainment appears to 
have been a burlesque on greatness; hence a barn, the scene of 
their festivity, is called a hall, two of the principal male and 
female characters are dubbed lord and lady, and others bear the 
name of my lord's waiting-man, and my lady's waiting- 
maid. A treasurer who carries a tin box before him, a set of 
morris dancers, a merry- andrew to clear the ring for dancing, 
&c, form the remainder of the group; and these fantastically 
dressed and decorated with ribbons, dance or parade among the 
spectators. The barn doors are ornamented with an owl and 
monkey, who bear the appropriate names of my lord's parrot 
and my lady's lap-dog, and to miscall any of these, or accept of 
my lord's cake or ale, which are carried about in profusion and 
offered to every one, subjects the offending party to a forfeiture of 
sixpence, for which however he is treated with a ride on my 
lord's gelding l (if a man behind my lady, or if a female be- 
fore my lord,) who of course considers himself entitled to a 
salute : but if this honour is declined, for an additional six- 
pence the forfeiting party is privileged to enter my lord's hall, 
and is entertained with cake and ale. By the sums collected in 
this manner, together with those arising from the voluntary visits 



1 A monstrous weoden liorse, carried on men's shoulders to a certain di- 
stance amidst the shouts of a large company of followers. 



APPENDIX. 26g 

of parties to the hall, the expenses of the entertainment, which 
are very considerable, are defrayed, and oftentimes the surplus is 
applied to charitable purposes 2 . A towering May pole erected 
some time before Whitsuntide serves to announce the amuse- 
ment to the neighbouring villages, and the crowds which usually 
attend attract great numbers of those itinerant traders who frequent 
markets and fairs, so that the festival may be considered one of the 
most entertaining in the country 3 . 

Meadow Mo wing. — At the mowing of Rcvei-mede, a meadow 
between Bicester and Wendlebury, most of the different kinds of 
rural sports were usually practised ; and in such repute was the 
holiday, that booths and stalls were erected as if it had been a fair. 
The origin of the custom is unknown $ but as the amusements 
took place at the time when the meadow became subject to com- 
monage, some have supposed it originated in the rejoicings of the 
villagers on that account. These sports entirely ceased on the en- 
closure of Chesterton field. 

Harvest Home. — This custom still prevails among the farmers, 
and nearly according to ancient usage. It simply consists in a 
supper given to those employed in getting in the corn, some of 
whom ride to the farm on the last load, shouting " Harvest 
home !" But if this happens to lie through the town, their merri- 
ment is frequently interrupted by the pails of water which the 

12 At Bicester in particular this has been the case. A few 5 ears ago a 
funeral pa'.l for the use of the poor was purchased in this way; and a similar 
object was contemplated by the projectors of the last Whitsun-ale ; but through 
the unfavourable state of the weather the expenses of the amusement were re- 
alised only : yet on representation of the circumstance to Mr. Coker, he 
carried the design into effect. This handsome pall is now kept at the work- 
house, and lent to any applicant. 

3 At the neighbouring village of Kirklington is a similar amusement held 
annually on Lammas-day, and from thence denominated a Lamb-ale. The 
common people fca\ r , if the larter were discontinued in that village, the inhabi- 
tants of Bicester King's end would be privileged to establish it in that town- 
ship. 



%?0 APPENDIX. 

sportive inhabitants endeavour to throw on them from their win* 
dowSi The harvest home is a relic of servile customs ; and in 
ancient times was considered a part of the reward for customary- 
services. The present mode of hiring labourers and servants has 
certainly rendered the custom unnecessary j yet it remains for the 
farmer to consider how far the prospect of the merry-making sti- 
mulates the exertions of the workmen. 

A similar supper was given by the late Joseph Bullock, Esq. of 
Caversfield, at the close of the season for gathering hops. 

Payments. — It was formerly usual for many of the inhabitants 
to pay sums for rents, &c. in the parish-church, or in and over the 
church-porchj and to lodge copies of their leases, &c. in the pa- 
rish-chests, many of which still remain in those depositories. An 
indenture stipulating payments as above is given by Kennett 4 , made 
1352, 26, 27 Edward III., between Sir John Trymnel and 
Thomas de Pan ton and Camerona his wife, for the conveyance of 
the enfeoffment of two cottages, with their appurtenances, which 
were held by John Spaygne and John de Langton in Bicester, for 
the yearly rent of twenty-nine shillings sterling, to be paid in the 
parish-church on Sunday after the octaves of St. Michael. In the 
church-wardens' chest are also several leases of the estates given 
for charitable purposes, which expressly stipulate for the payment 
of rents on a certain day into the hands of Mr. John Coker, in the 
room over the church-porch. 

Mumping. — But perhaps the most singular custom is that which 
has long obtained on the morrow after Christmas-day, and is usu- 
ally denominated Mumping. Immediately after breakfast many of 
the poor assemble together, and in a body visit the gentry and 
tradesmen to solicit a Christmas-box. As they expect a certain 
sum per head, none of the family are left at home, and the num- 
ber of men, women, and children collected together for this pur- 
pose sometimes amounts to one hundred. This imposition on the 



4 Paroch. Ant. p. 476. 



APPENDIX. 271 

more industrious is generally reckoned at one penny for every 
grown person, and a halfpenny for a child. To guard against a 
second demand from the same individuals, many of the inhabitants 
detain them at their doors till the whole are assembled, and then 
admit them into a yard oroourt, where they receive their custo- 
mary dole, and are then re-admitted into the street. The circuit of 
the town generally occupies them from ten in the morning till 
three in the afternoon, during which the most active collect from 
about ten to eighteenpence, which enormous sum is usually spent 
in some refreshment in the evening. 

The other sports and amusements are those which are common 
to the whole country. 



ADDENDA. 



The following account of the confinement of several Protestants in 
Bicester Priory having been omitted in its proper place, the 
Reader will excuse its insertion here. 

In the year 1521 numbers of the inhabitants of Chesham, Ux- 
bridge, and the surrounding towns, were accused of heresy before 
John Longland, bishop of Lincoln 1 , and many being intimidated 
by ecclesiastical threatenings, were induced to abjure their opini- 
ons and submit to penance. These were severally committed to 
the abbeys and monasteries of Bicester, Tame, Nuttley, Asherugge, 
Eynsham, Oseney, and others, there to be kept and found of alms 
all their lives, being prohibited from passing the precincts of the 
different monasteries without the bishop's dispensation. They were 
all enjoined this penance— On a particular market-day to go 

1 From the last will and testament of Isabell Staveley widow, of Burcester, it 
seems that she married the father of this prelate.— Kenn. MS. Collec. Lansd. 
MS. vol. ii. 992. 



2J2 APPENDIX. 

thrice about Burford-market, stand on the highest greece of the 
cross bearing a faggot, — again to bear the same faggot both at 
Burford and their own parish-church during the celebration of high 
mass, and at the burning of an heretic, — every Sunday and Friday 
during life to say Our Lady's Psalter, — on no account to attempt 
hiding the mark imprinted on their cheek, or converse with su- 
spected persons on pain of relapse 2 . 

The same writer says that in the reign of Queen Mary the Earl 
of Derby so far degraded his rank as to engage in the prosecution 
of heretics, that he several times examined G. Marsh at Latham, 
and materially contributed towards committing him to the flames 3 . 



Amount of the Subscription in aid of the Sufferers at the Battle of 

Waterloo, 

Collected from pew to pew in the parish-church after 
a sermon preached by the Rev. J. Markland, July 23, 
added to a donation of 10/. by J. Coker, Esq a£43 13 

Collected among the Dissenters 4 '. . £ 4 10 G 



2 Fox's Martyrology, p. 838. Lond. 1583. 3 lb. 1562. 

4 Times Newspaper, August 31, 1815. 



INDEX. 



A. page 

Account of the tenants, rents, 
and services within the manor 
of Bicester, lSEdw. III. - 215 
Account of the outgoings and in- 
comings of the dairy of La 
Brech, 8 Hen. IV. - - 230 
Account of the receipts and ex- 
penditure of the prior and ca- 
nons of Bicester Priory, A. D. 
1425 - - - 234 

Adams, John » - 74 

Ajrson, Thomas - - 89 

Akeman-street, description of 1 99 
Alchester, its etymology - 190 

— conjectures respect- 
ing its Roman name 191 

,- present state - - 197 

- discoveries on digging 
among the ruins - 195 

Aldridge, Richard - - - 87 

Aldwinkle, John de . - 70 

AUectus rebels againstCarausius, 

and defeats that monarch 

at Caversfield - - 209 
■ is slain by Asclepiodo- 

tus in battle - - 210 

Altars, the number of, in the 

church of Bicester Priory 78 

to whom dedicated - ib. 

how decorated - - 79 

Annals of the Priory of St. Ed- 
burg . . 57-78 
Ardington, tithes of, settled on 
Bicester Priory . - £9 



Arthur, his battles with the Sax- 
ons - - 204 
Asherugge, rector and convent of 68 
Aspler, Thomas - - 87 
Audley, James Lord, his bene- 
faction to Bicester Priory - 66 
Augustine visitsOxfordshire,and 

raises a dead body to life 206 
Order, their origin, 



52 

68 



170 



rules and dress - ■ 

Aulney Abbey 

B. 

Bailiwick of Bicester, when in- 
stituted 

with whom 

remaining - - 173 

Bake-house provided by the lord 
of Bigenhul for the use of his 
tenants - - 31 

Banbury, Thomas - - 75 

Alice - - 65 

'Allen,his disputes with 

Bicester Priory - - 62 

founds the Bices- 



ter schools at Oxford 
Basset, Gilbert, obtains the grant 
of seven knight's fees of 
the honor of Walingford, 
which includes Bicester 
and the neighbouring pa- 
rishes 

■ ' his benefactions to 

the religious 

Gilbert, founds Bicester 

Priory . - - 



- 63 



- 151 



ib, 

55 



INDEX. 



Basset, Gilbert, grants land for 
the endowment - 53 

chief events of 

his life - - 151, 

Philip 

■'■ Philippa 

Battle of Ashendon 

Battle of Basing 

Battle of Banbury 

Battle of Cirencester ' 

Battle of Gravenhull 

Bellamy, William 

Bensington Parsonage 

Bicester, situation and etymo- 
logy - 
description of the town 



Li 



jenhul, village of 

■ history of the manor 

• present state of 

Bird, John - 

his epitaph at Wendlebury 

Blackwall, Samuel 

Blount, Sir Michael 

Sir Richard 

Brails, Richard 

Bret, James le 

Brito, Thomas 

Brode, Nicholas 

Brown, William, surrenders Bi- 
cester Priory 

Bruce, Robert 

Buriais, none permitted at Strat- 
ton And ley 

Burneester, Walter de 

Burrows, Richard, his donation 
for apprenticing poor children 147 

Butt's-corner anciently without 
the town - -16 



59 

152 
65 
64 
10 
ib. 
5 
6 
10 
70 
86 

1 

16 

134 

157 

139 

87 

89 

- 89 

- 87 

- 8S 

- 74 
- 60, 61 

- 62 

- 69 



C 

Campion, William 

Camvill, Richard de, marries the 

widow of T. Verdon - 152 
— his benefactions to the 

Priory of Bicester 58. 60 

Carlton, Mary, her benefaction 

to the poor 
appoints a sermon 

to be preached on the 2nd 

Sunday in March 
Caruham, Robert 
Cattieuchlani 
Caversneld, Richard de 
— — Sybil de 



70 



45 



146 
87 

188 
70 
61 



Caversneld, Village of, etymo- 
logy 

battle 

fought 
Cenwalch - - 

Cerdic - - 

Chamberlain, Dame Ann 
Charity School established 

■ scholars taught to 

work in school hours 
— — benefaction to 



Charter of Hen. 11. to the inha- 
bitants of the honor of 
Wallingford 

for a fair in KingVend 

Chesney, Maud de 

Chesterton, Ralph de 

Church in Bicester, supposed to 
be built by Birinus 

— dedicated to 



209 

ib. 
8 
5 

87 
111 

112 
113 



26 

125 

75 

64 

48 



St. James 



- 49 



anciently 

stood in Sheep-street - ib. 

Clements, Thomas, purchases 

the bailiwick of Bicester 170 

' attempts to retain the 

manorial rights - - 171 
Clerk, Robert - - 60 

Clifton - - - 86 

Coins found at Alchester - 198 

Cok, Thomas - - 70 

Coker, John, see manor of Nun's 

Place 
Coker, Thomas, his donations to 

the poor - - - 147 

Commonage, description of - 36 

right of, terminated 39 

Constantius opposes Carausius 203 
Cooke, S. - - 90 

Cornish, Henrv, enters New Inn 

Hall, Oxford - - 120 

joins the parliament 

party - - ib. 

is appointed visitor of 

the University - ib. 

displaced by tbe king's 

commissioners - ib. 

- settles at Bicester, and 
becomes pastor of a dis- 
senting congregation - ib. 

his death and character 121 

Cottesford, Roger de - 69 

Coventry, John - - 75 



INDEX, 



Crispin, Milo 
Crockwell, Walter de 

Street, account of 

- instances of the extra- 
vagant rent of cottages 

well, where situated 

— — Moor 



Culne, Richard 
Curtlington, Robert de 

D. 

Dadyngton, William 
D'Amory, Sir Richard 
Danes enter Oxfordshire 
— ' — defeated at Gravenhill 

destroy Berincester and 

the neighbouring villages 

massacred at Oxford 

Deaneries, institution of 
Deanery of Bicester, the seal of 

churches in 

Dennant, John 
Derby, Earls of, see Stanley 
Derby-hold, its origin - 37. 

■ estates converted 



150 
60 
17 

ib. 
ib. 
61 
66 
69 



75 

80 

9 

10 

12 

ib. 
51 

52 
ib. 
122 

170 



into freeholds 


175 


Dissenters, their tenets 


118 










celebrated by their mi- 




nis er 


121 


Dobuni - - - 


188 


Donations to the parish of Bi- 




cester - 


140 


Doomsdav-book, account of 


21 




22 


explanation of 


the terms 


ib. 


Drayton 


86 



E. 

Ethel fleda governs Mercia - 1 1 
— — — her character - ib. 
Extracts from the church-war- 
dens' books - - 261 

from the "king's books 262 

Eynesharn, the abbat and con- 
vent of - 57 
Eyre, Joseph - - 90 



Fairs and markets, origin of - 124 

- — anciently held 

in church-yards on a 
Sunday - - ib. 



Fairs and markets, charter for 
one at Bicester 

— — market discon- 
tinued, and a new one es- 
tablished in Market-end 

M. Howlet es- 
tablished three new fairs 

Farmers, ancient state of 

■ alteration in the man- 

ners of their daughters 

Fitz-Count, Brien, wars against 
King Stephen 

— — takes the cros c , 

and his estates seized by 
the king 

Fitz-Michael, Robert 

Forbes, Thomas 

Free-school, account of 

Freewaltl, father of St. Edburg 
and St. Edith a 



125 



127 



129 
37 



40 



150 



61 

S9 
.07 



- 57 



G. 



Gargate, Isabel, her donation to 
the priory 

Muriel 

Germayn, Robert, the tenure by 
which he held his lands, cot- 
tage, &c. 
Glass-urn found m Al Chester - 
Glynne, William, purchases an 

estate at Bicester 
■ is created a ba- 
ronet 

his benefactions 

to Bicester church 

builds Am bros- 



den-house 

Sir William, chosen 

member for Woodstock 

Sir Stephen, sells the 

estates of Bicester and 
Ambrosden 

Grantham, Sir Thomas, his do- 
nation to poor widows 

■ inscrip- 
tion on his monument 

Graven-hill, Danes buried there 

the wood given to Bi- 
cester Priory 

Green, Richard 

Grimsbury, land at, given to 
Bicester Priory 

■ valuation of 



61 
ib. 



29 
198 

173 

ib. 

104 

174 

ib. 
ib. 

ib. 

146 

103 
19 

59 
70 

65 
250' 



INDEX, 



Grimsbury, to whom given after 

the Dissolution -, - 87 

Grote, Peter le 70 



H. 



Hall, William 

Harvest-home, origin of the cus- 
tom 

all the families 

bound to give their ser- 
vice on the last day of 
harvest, except their 
wives and tenants 

■ present mode of 



- 89 



31 



ib. 



269 



keeping the feast 
Hearne, Thomas, his opinion re- 
specting Alchester -,- - 201 
Hermitage and chapel of St. 

John the Baptist - - 115 

Hervey, prior of Bicester - 60 

Heyford-warrin - 65. 75. 255 

Hindlest, Richard - - 75 

Hodesham, land in, exchanged 

for Nyhenaker - - 60 

Honour of Wallingford - 21 

charter 

granted to the inhabi- 
tants - - 26 

court of, 

when held, fines levied, 
discovered to be illegal 34, 35 
Hospital, charter for one at Bi- 
cester - - 116 

I. 

Inclosure of King's-end field, 
substance of the bill ob- 
tained for the - - 40 

■ names of the 

proprietors - - ib. 

■ width of public 

roads, &c. - - 41 

account of the 

great tythes - - ib. 

» i provisoes in the 

act - - 42 

Enclosures of Market-end field, 

bill obtained - 37-39 

' names of the 

land owners - - ib. 

names of those 

having a right to conv 
monage - - ib. 

. „ consequence of 



inclosures, rise of the rent 
of land 

Ingeram, Walter - 

Inns, scarcity of — Travellers en- 
tertained at religious houses 

Islip, Robert 

Jones, James, establishes a Sun- 
day-school 

Jurdan, Nicholas, obtains a char- 
ter for a hospital at Bicester 

K. 



42 
62 



70 



- Ill 
115 



87 



Kennel, John 

Kennett, Sarah, inscription on 
her monument 

Kennett, White, affecting letter 
of, detailing the circumstances 
of her death - - ib. 

Kenric - 5 

King's-end, built on the site of 

Bigenhull - 20. 135 

■ privileges of the inha- ( 

bitants - - 136 

Kirklington, land in 58 

Kirklington, Walter de - 62 



101 



L. 

Lacy, Henry, earl of Lincoln, 
marries Margaret Longspe 

. procures charters for 

fairs 

military enterprises ' 

death of his son 

■ embassy 

joins thebarons against 



Gaveston 

death of his wife 

■ marries his daughter 
to Thomas earl of Lan- 
caster 

1 dies 

inquisition 

Lacy, Alice, seized by Earl War- 
ren's partisans 

claimed by Richard as 

his wife . 

■ divorced from the Earl 



156 

157 
ib. 
ib. 

158 

ib. 

159 



Eubolo le 



of Lancaster 

— marries 
Strange 

— forfeits her estates 

— death of Eubolo 



marries again 
dies 



ib. 
ib. 

68 

160 

161 

ib. 

ib. 

ib. 

162 

ib. 

ib. 



INDEX, 



Lamb-ale - - 269 

Lancaster, Thomas earl of, op- 
poses Gaveston - 160 

— v— — made steward 

of England 

Law prohibiting: men from fol- 
lowing any profession except 
agriculture 

Lestrange, Sir Roger 

— Sir John 

Sir Richard and lady 

quarrel with the wife of 
Sir John Trussel in St. 
Dunstan's Church 
perform penance 



ib. 



32 
163 
ib. 



163 
164 

85 



Letcomb Basset 
Longspe,William, marries Idonea 

de Camvil - - 153 
— — claims the earldom 

of Salisbury - - ib. 
his benefactions to 

Bicester Priory - 63, 64 

■ ■ ■ ■■ military achieve- 



ments 



- 153 



slain by the Sara- 



cens - - 154 
seen by his mother 

ascending to heaven - ib. 
miracles at his tomb 155 



Longspe, William, son of the 
above 

■ ■' scheme of his widow 
to retain her estates after 
marrying a second hus- 
band without the king's 
license 

M. 

Magendime, field of - 

Markland, John 

May-Day, amusements of 

Meadow-mowing 

Meeting-House, description of 

Missenden Little 

Mortar-pits, Derby holders pri- 
vileged to dig mortar at 

Mumping, custom of 

N. 
Nicholas, Pope, ecclesiastical 

taxation - - 67 

Nun's Place, history of the ma- 
nor - - 130 
— granted on lease to 

John Griffith - - 132 



- ib. 



156 

62 

90 

267 

269 

122 

63 

39 
270 



Nun's Place sold to Mr. John 

Coker - - 159 

manor-house re- 
built - - ib. 

■ the green inclosed, 

and converted into a plea- 
sure ground - - 133 

O. 

Oilgi, or D'Oilly, Robert, marries 

Aldithd'aughterofWigod 143 
■ the greatest man 



in the county 

builds Oxford cas- 



- 149 



tie, the great bridge, &c. 
grants the tithe 



of Bicester and the neigh- 
bouring villages to the 
church of St.George, Ox- 
ford 

— monkish story 

concerning his illness - 
death 



Osbath, George 

Oseney Abbey, description of the 
dormitory of 

Oseney, Abbot, complains of da- 
mage in their possessions 
at Arncote 

remits the tithe of 

Bicester parish to that 
priory 

Osmond, John 

P. 

Paine, Thomas, burnt in effigy 
Parentyn, Richard 
Parish churches, origin of 

their endowment 

■■ ■ privileged with 

burying grounds 

part of the church 



ib. 



ib. 

ib. 

150 

87 



- §1 



66 



68 

70 

183 
70 
44 
45 

46 



allotted to the use of the 
hamlets - - ib. 

Parish church of Bicester, when 

built - - 91 

description ib. 

—————— galleries - 95 

organ, pal- 
pit, reading-desk, and 



font 



- 96 



inscriptions 



monumental 

tower 
churchyard 



97 
107 
108 



INDEX. 



Patron of the church anciently 
Allowed a seat in the 
chancel - - - 46 
Patron Saint - - 49 

Paulyn, John - - 70 

Payments - - 270 

Penda - 6 

Penrose, Mr,, digg among the 

ruins of Alchester - 1 9.5 

discovei-ies - 156 

Petvrton, Richard - -75 

Philip, Ralph - - 71 

Place-yard, story of a coach and 

six horses lost in a pond - S3 

Platitius, Aulus, leads a Roman 

army into Britain - 189 

his wars - ib. 

plants a garrison 

at Alchester - - 190 

Poor of Bicester, an abstract of 
the returns for the expense 
and maintenance of, for seve- 
ral years - - 43 
Population in 1801 and 181 1 - 44 
Princep, John - - 90 
Priory of St. Edburg, by whom. 

founded - - 55 

— — charter of foun- 



dation 



- ib. 

— Patron Saint 57 

donations, &c. 57.76 

description of 3 

the buildings at the time 
of the Dissolution - SI 
statement of its 



revenues - - 77, 78 

-- — to whom grant- 

- 85. 173 



ed 



Priory church, account of - 78-80 
■ -conjectures respect- 
ing its site - - ib. 
Protestants, account of some con- 
fined in Bicester Priory - 271 
Pugh, John - - 66 

Q. 
Quakers - - - 124 

Quintin, description of that sport 266 



Roads, the ancient and present 
state of those in the 
neighbourhood of Bicester 13 

— — — their repair anciently 

considered an act of piety ib. 



Roads, turnpikes, tolls, &c. 

•■ Roman 

Rosamond Clifford, life of 

■ not pois >ned 

interred at God- 
stow church 

■ extract from an 

ancient book relative to 
the opening of her grave 
by King Henry 

removal of her 

body by order of the bi- 
shop of Lincoln 

Rural Deans 

Russel, Mistrys, purchases land 
at Letcomb Basset, formerly 
belonging to Bicester Priory 



Saxons, description of 
■ invade Britain 

settle in Oxfordshire 

Serich, Richard 
Sheep-street, formerly 

John's-street 
Sherborne 
Shewring, Thomas 
Shobington, Nicholas de 
Shore, Thomas 
Shrove Tuesday, sports of 
Small pox rages at Bicester, and 
occasions the ruin of the mar- 
ket - 
Smith, John, his description of a 
well and coffin found in Place 
Yard Gardens 
Smith, John 
Sports and pastimes 
Stage coach - - 
Stanley, George, Lord Lestrange, 
marries the daughter of 
Sir John Lestrange 

■ given up to Richard 

III. as an hostage for the 
fidelity of his father 
»■ Thomas, Earl of Derby 

■ Henry, Earl of Derby, 

accompanies Wolsey to 
France 

suppresses the pil- 



14 
201 
213 

ib. 

215 



214 



215 
51 



Sfi 



- 


4 


e 


6 


- 


69 


St. 




- 18. 


117 


. 


86 


- 


89 


. 


70 


. 


85 


- 


267 



ISO 



82 

90 

266 

183 



- 164 



165 
ib. 



grimage of grace 

persecutes the Wi- 

clifites 
dies 



166 
ib. 

272 

166 



Stanley, Henry, his son, life of 

■ Ferdinand, Earl of Der- 

b} r , said to be bewitched 

1 detail of his illness 

and death 

* William, Earl of Derby, 

involved in a dispute re- 
specting his title to the 
Isle of Man 

■ sells the manor of 



Bicester 

Stapenhull, Thomas de 

Staveley, William, his benefac- 
tions to Bicester Priory 

inscription on his 

monument 

Stodham 

Stone-pits, Derby-holders privi- 
leged to dig stones at 

Stratton, village of, its etymology 

' anciently an hamlet 

of Bicester 

- ■ the great tythes given 

to Eguesham Abbey 

■ the chapel conveyed 

bv charter to Bicester 



INI 


)EX. 




167 


Tithes first granted by the lord 






of the manor 


45 


ib. 


divided into four parts by 






Augustine 


46 


168 


■■ anciently collected by iti- 






nerant priests 


47 




Bicester and Stratton given 






to St. George's church, 




169 


Oxford 
transfer of the grant to 


ib. 


170 


Oseney Abbey 


ib. 


70 


Tooker, John - - 
Tower of Bicester church, tra- 


71 


73 


dition respecting 


50 




bells, &c. 


107 



Priory 
— the 



jreat tythe con- 
veyed to that monastery 
for an annual pension - 

tythe of hay given to 

the same 

■ the inhabitants pu- 
nished for burying their 
dead in that village 

the rectory and ad- 

vowson of the church 
granted to the see of Ox- 
ford - -86. 

Stratton, William de 

Stukeley, Dr., his observations 
on Alchester - .191. 

Suffolk, Duke of, obtains the 
grant of Bicester Priory 

Sunday Schools, account of 



97 

86 

172 
201 

50 

57 

ib. 

58 
ib. 



245 
70 

194 

85 
114 



T. 
Taylor, Thomas - - 89 

Tenures - - - 24 

Theodore, Archbishop of Canter- 
bury, unites the bishoprick of 
Dorchester to Mercia - 8 

Thornberg, William de - 68 



Town Hall 

Town-stock, account of 

orders issued by the 

court of Chancery rela- 
tive to the application of 
the charity 

present state of the 

funds, &c. 

Troughton, John, enters St. 
John's College Oxon 

is ejected 

. settles at Bicester 

•, his death and cha- 
racter 

Troughton, John, son of the for- 
mer - - - 

Turner, Edward, purchases the 
priory estates 

. created a baronet 

dies 

. Sir Edward, is a candi- 

date fur the representa- 
tion of the county in par- 
liament 

rebuilds Ambrosden 

house, and extends the 



18 
140 



141 

143 

119 
ib. 
ib. 

ib. 

121 

174 
ib. 
ib. 



175 



park 



dies 



- Sir Gregory, succeeds to 
his father's estates, and 
discharges all the work- 
men employed in the 
plantations at Ambros- 
den 

— — pulls dovfn the house, 
cutsdown the timber, and 
incloses the park 

causes of his death 

his will 



ib. 

177 

ib. 



INDEX. 



Vache, Richard de la, grants 
lands to Bicester Priory on 
certain conditions - 66. 69 

Valuation of tbe estates of the 
Priory of Bicester by the com - 
missioners appointed by Hen- 
ry VIII. •- - 250 

Vicarage of Bicester ordained > 59 

— ■ its revenues in- 



creased by a new instru- 
ment granted by the prior 
and convent 
Sir M. and Sir R. 



Blount seize upon some of 
its revenues 

are obliged to re- 
fund them by a decree of 
Chancery 

i the vicarage again 
injured by the sale of Sir 
S. Glynne's estates 

measures taken to 



72 



88 



ib. 



- 90 



obtain redress - ib. 

Vicarage-house, description of ib. 
Villains, description of the - 23 

■ their services - 29 
— — — not allowed to sell a 

stone -horse, or ox, or give 
their sons any learning, or 
marry their daughters, 
without consent of their 
lord - - 30 

•■' causes of their emanci- 

pation - -36 

■ instance of manumission 
granted to two of the king's 
slaves and their families 

by Henry VIII. - ib. 

-relics of villainage exist- 
ing in 1695 - - ib. 
Visitors appointed to inspect all 

the monasteries - 76 

■ their instructions - ib. 
report - - Ti 



Volunteer company established 1 83 

W. 

Walker, William, his benefac- 
tions to the schools - 113. 147 

Walsingham, the king at - 68 

Wantyng, John - - 71 

Warde, Roger de - - 69 

Warkworth, land at, given to 
Bicester Priory - - ib. 

Well of St. Edburg, where situ- 
ated ' - - 83 

■ virtue of its waters ib. 

re -opened by Mr, 

Coker - - 84 

— < present name and 

state 

Wells, Hugh, Bishop of Lincoln, 
ordains the vicarage of 
Bicester - - 58 

orders the removal of 



ib. 



the body of fair Rosamond 215 
Wentworth, Agnes - - 87 

Whitsun-ales - - - 268 

Wigod de Walingford entertains 
the Romans after the bat- 
tle of Hastings - 148 

-marries his daughter 

to Robert de Oilly ~ - 149 
Wilkins, Bennet - - 85 

Wilkins, John - - 87 

Worden Pool - -199 

Work-house, account of - 19 

Wretchwic,how written anciently 200 

account of, see Priory 

Estates - - 

Wycomb, Edmund, grants a new 
instrument of endowment for 
the vicarage of Bicester - 72 

Wykins, Thomas, and T.Cle- 
ments purchase the bailiwick 
of Bicester - - 170 

Y. 

Year-s-mind, how celebrated - 79 



THE END. 



Printed by Richard and Arthur Taylor, Shoe Lane, London* 



GLOSSARY 

TO EXPLAIN 

THE ORIGINAL, THE ACCEPTATION, AND 
OBSOLETENESS 

OF 

Wortis an* prases; 

AND TO SHEW 
THE RISE, PRACTISE, AND ALTERATION OF 

Customs, JLatos, anli iftannets. 



By WHITE KENNETT, D.D. 

LATE LORD BISHOP OF PETERBOROUGH » 



LONDON: 

printed fcg Ricfcrfc anb £rt&ui: (STaglcr, Sfco^llanr, 

AND SOLD BY J. AND A. ARCH, CORNHILL. 

1816. 






ADVERTISEMENT. 

learning, industry, and research have however been 
generally acknowledged. The Editor has only 
to add that considerable care has been taken in 
re-printing it, and that with a few corrections of 
literal errors, and of faults detected by comparison 
of the cited passages, the present will be found a 
complete copy of the valuable and scarce original. 



January 1, 1810. 



. 









A 

GLOSSARY 

TO EXPLAIN 

The Original, the Acceptation, and 
Obsoleteness 

OF 

WORDS AND PHRASES; 

AND TO SHEW THE RISE, PRACTISE, AND ALTERATION OF 
CUSTOMS, LAWS, AND MANNERS. 



By WHITE KENNETT, 

VICAR OF AMBROSDEN, 



GLOSSARY. 



The authorities to which the letter K is affix t will be found in the 
Parochial Antiquities. 



A BUND A. A mete or Bound. — Juxta ripam de Charwell usque 
ad metas et Abundas ibidem per me concessas, K. p. 208. From Sax. 
Banba bond, from Binban to bind. Hence hat -Band, wrist-Band, 
neck-Band : to Bound, to reBound. A Ban, an enclosed field or 
limited piece of ground. The Ban of a house or a mill, the close 
or back-yard adjoining to it. A Bandog, a mastiff kept close, or 
tied up. A Bandore, or veil of a widow to bind over or cover her 
head and face. A horse-Bin, which in Kent is that apartment of 
a stable where the chaff and cut meat is secured by a partition of 
boards. A Bin or Bing, a safe, an aumbry or cupboard in a but- 
tery or lardar. The kiln of the furnace wherein they burn their 
charcoal for the melting of mettals, is commonly called the Bing. 
And the cistern into which they throw their crystallized allom for 
the water to drain from it, is called a Bing at Whitby in Yorkshire. 
A Bind of eels is a string or stick of eels. A Binne of hides or 
skins is in some countries a quantity for common sale, consisting 
of thirty-three skins or hides. 

Abuttare. To Abutt, vid. Buttes. Abut tat super prcedictam 
terram, K. p. 399. In a terrier, or description of the site of land, 
the sides on the breadth are said to be adjacentes, lying or border- 
ing, and the ends only in length are abuttantes, abutting or bound- 
ing. Which in old surveys they sometime expressed by capitare 
to head, or the head-land so bounding. As in the rental of Wye 
in Kent belonging to the abby of Battel in Sussex, Tenent octo 
acrasjuxta Goreswall capitantes ad prcedictam wallam, Custumar 
de Bello, f. 241. Hence to go About was properly to go round by 
the end, instead of striking cross the middle. 

Acolythus. An Acolite, who in our old English was called 
a Colet, from which office came the family of Dean Colet founder 
of Paul's School. An inferiour church-servant, who next under the 
sub- deacon waited on the priests and deacons, and performed the 
meaner offices of lighting the candles, carrying the bread and wine, 

b2 



4 GLOSSARY. 

and paying other servile attendance. Vacanle ecdesia de Ambres- 
don, rector et conventus de Asherugge Johannem de Capella Acv- 
lythum prcesentarunt, K. p. 346. 

Acra. An Acre, from Sax. JEceji a field. The word at first 
signified not a determined quantity of land, but any open ground, 
especially a wide campagne : and that sense of it seems preserved 
in the names of places, Castle- acre, West-acre, &c. in com. Norf. 
When the word was applied to the measure of ground, the quantity 
was still various, but determined by the statutes of 31 Edw. I. and 
24 Hen. VIII. c. 4 : one acre to consist of eight score perches, 
fourty in length and four in breadth, or so in proportion. Though 
the perch still differed in different counties, vid. Perch. At the 
great Doomsday inquisition the common pasture seems measured 
by hides, the arable land by carucates, and the meadow by acres, 
K., p. 65. — Exceptis virgis et buitis, quarum quatuor vir gee faciunt 
unam acram, et aliquando plures, similiter aliquando quatuor but- 
tes, aliquando quinque, aliquando sex, aliquando sept em, aliquando 
octo faciunt unam acram, videlicet secundum quantitatem earundein 
in longitudine et latitudine, K. p. .534. 

AcauiETARE. To Acquit or discharge, or totestifie the receipt 
of a debt by giving an Acquittance. Pro ista donatione et conces- 
sions acquietaverunt fratres prcedicti de quinque wards argenti, 
K. p. 126. It was the common form in deeds of gift and other 
conveyance. — Nos autem.— warantizabimus acquieialimus et defen- 
demus in perpetuum. — Pro hac autem warantia acquietantia et de- 
jensione. — Hence to Quit any claim or pretension. To get Quit of 
any danger or trouble. Quite, perfectly, entirely, as Quite dead, 
&c. Quotted, satisfied and cloyed, as his stomach is quite Quotted. 
Actiones. The whole process and transaction of a gift and 
charter, and other formal rites and solemnities of a publick con- 
veyance. So in the donation of Musewell in Ambrosden to the 
abby of Missenden, — Affuerunt hiis actionibus prcesentes et testes, 
K. p. 76. 

Adramire, Adrhamire, Arramire, Arramare. To Arrain, i. e. 
to appeal to the law, to offer proof for the claim of right, to pro- 
ceed to an assise or trial, and stand to the verdict of a jury. So, 
To Arraine a writ of novel disseisin, i. e. to prefer such an action, 
and prosecute the issue of it. To Arraign an assise, i. e. to make 
plaint, to open the cause, and sue for justice. To Arraign a crimi- 
nal, i. e. to indict and bring him to his trial. Dr. Cowel would 
derive this term from the French arranger, to dispose or set in 
order, which conjecture is approved and justified by the latter edi- 
tor of that interpreter. But the more learned Sir Henry Spelman 
refers it to the old French word arramir, to swear or take a solemn. 



GLOSSARY. 5 

oath. As if Arramire assisam were to appeal to the oaths of wit- 
nesses, and to the verdict of a jury. But indeed I rather think 
that Adramire was at first a contraction of Ad arm a ire, because the 
old legal trial both for the title of estates and the charge of crimes 
was by solemn combat or duel, when Arramire or Ar ram are was to 
alarm or call the accused person to a decisive trial at arms. And 
because the champions were upon the first challenge to swear that 
they would put themselves on this military issue : and at the time 
and place of combat were again to take formal oaths to observe the 
stated laws of the camp ; therefore Arramire was to swear, but in 
a secondary sense, as solemn swearing did attend and relate to their 
solemn fighting. When this barbarous custom of determining a 
cause by arms and blood, was succeeded by the more civilized way 
©f assise or trial by jury, temp. Hen. II., then the word was con- 
tinued when the method was altered, and Arramire versus aliquem 
was to appeal for justice against a person, and to sue for the bene- 
fit of a publick trial. And Arramire reum was to arraign a crimi- 
nal, and offer proof for the conviction of him. — Thomas Abbas de 
Egnesham in curia hie Adramivit versus eos de advocatione ecclesice 
de Sulthorn, K. p. 351. 

Advouson or Churches. No church legally consecrated 
without an allotment of manse and glebe, made generally by the 
lord of the mannor, who thereby became advocate or patron of 
that church, K. p. 222. So as the lordship of the mannor and pa- 
tronage of the church were rarely in different hands, till advou- 
sons were unhappily given to religious houses, K. p. 2/6. During 
a controversie for the right of patronage, the diocesan presented to 
the church salvo jure utriusque. So in a suit depending between 
William earl of Sarum and the abbat of Barlings, for the advou- 
son of the church of Midleton, K. p. 192. So Hugh bishop of 
Line, presented to the church of Godington, in a dispute of title 
between Thomas de Camvill and the abbess of Alveston, K. p. 193. 
When two several persons presented their respective clerk, an in- 
quisition was directed from the archdeacon to be executed within 
the parish, and returned into the court, K. p. 346. No such in- 
quisition if the right were apparent, Nulla inquisitione in hac parte 
capta, quia domino constabat dejure patronatus, K. p. 507 '• When 
the king presented a clerk upon a false title, the bishop instituted 
the other's clerk, but with great deference to the king's pretended 
title, and obliging the clerk so instituted to an oath of resignation 
if the king's right should afterward appear. Post institutionem 
suam prcedictam juravit tactis sacro Sanctis Evangeliis quod si con- 
tigerit dictum regem evincere jus patronatus ecclesice memoratce 
{i.e. de Ambresdon) illam sine coactione aliqua resignaret, K. p. 347. 



O GLOSSARY. 

If the patron presented not within six months, there was a lapse 
to the bishop, Dicunt etiam quod tempus semestre nondum elap- 
sum est, K. p. 351. The king and other guardians presented in 
the right of wards, K. p. 192, 193. When the right of advou- 
son was determined by law, a writ lay to the bishop to admit the 
right clerk, Concession est quod prcedictus Thomas abbas haleat 
breve episcopo Lincoln, quod ad prcesentationem ipsius abbatis ad 
prcBdictam ecclesiam idoneam personam admitlat, K. p. 351. The 
Advouson of churches in such mannors, as were held of the king 
in capite, not to be given by the lords to religious or charitable 
uses, without inquisition Ad quod dampnum, and license of the 
king, K. p. 352. Trials for right of advouson were in courts Chris- 
tian, K. p. 642. To prevent litigious suits for the title to bene- 
fices, the rural deans took an account of the names and number of 
the parish churches within their respective districts ; what the 
Christian name and sirname of the several incumbents, the time of 
their collation to such benefices, by what title they held them, 
whether by institution, commendam, or custody ; of what age they 
were, and in what orders; whether beneficed in more than one 
church; the name and quality of the patrons; and the value of 
every benefice by the last taxation. This register was distinctly 
transcribed, and a fair copy delivered to the diocesan, by him trans- 
mitted to the metropolitan in the next provincial council, K. p.'047. 
Fid. Patron. 

Advouson of Religious Houses. As those who built and 
endowed a parish church were by that title made patrons of it, 
so those who founded any house of religion had thereby the ad- 
vouson or patronage of it. Sometime the patrons had the sole 
nomination of the prelate, abbat, or prior ; either by investiture or 
delivery of a pastoral staff, as William Mareschal earl of Pembroke 
to the abby of Noteley, com. Buck. K. p. 147. Or by bare dona- 
tion or presentation to the diocesan ; as Reginald earl of Bologne 
in his charter to the priory of Cold Norton, Non hoc autem prceter- 
mittendum est, quod domus ilia de nostra donaiione est, et ?ios ibi 
priorem apponere deb emus, K. p. 163. If a free election were left 
to the religious, yet a conge d'eslire or license of electing was 
first to be obtained from the patron, or in his absence out of En- 
gland, from the seneschal or steward of his barony. So in the 
nunnery of Stodley, the founder Edmund earl of Cornwall thus 
provided, Nee est prcetermittendum, quod quotiescunque priorissam 
eligere contigerit ad eundem prioratum, de seipsis priorissam de as- 
sensu meo vel seneschalli mei, si in Anglia nonfuero, eligere licebit. 
Cum autem electa fuerit, ad prcesentalionem meam vel seneschalli 
mei si in Anglia non fuero domino Lincoln, episcopo debet prce~ 



GLOSSARY. 7 

sentari, K. p. 165. When the title of patronage was in dispute, 
the religious applied themselves to which they pleased of the con- 
tending parties : so the monks of Notley asked license of electing 
their abbat from the Lady Maud de Mortimer, whom they pre- 
sumed to be their patroness, though the earl of Glocester claimed 
that right, K. p. 314. The patronage lapsed to the lord of the 
honour, if the family of the founder was extinct : so Edmund earl 
of Cornwall became patron of the nunnery of Goring, by no other 
title than as that house was situate within the honour of Waling- 
ford, K. p. 329. On the death of the prelate or governour the 
lands escheated to the patron as lord of the fee, and were to be 
compounded for by relief, heriot, and other burdens of military 
service : unless their endowment was frank-almoin, or such right 
in the fee was expressly renounced : as Edmund earl of Cornwall 
in his charter to the college of Bonhommes at Asherugge. — Ita 
quod cedente vel decedente rectore ecclesice de Esserugge prcedicta, 
quod tios vel hczredes nostri — nullatenus habeamus ingressum in 
prcedictis maneriis seu Advocationibus ecclesiarum prcedictarum sive 
in aliquibus suis pertinentiis quicquam nos intromittamus tempore 
vacationis quo carebunt rectore, sed semper in manibus ipsorumfra- 
trum tarn tempore vacationis quam aliis temporibus remaneant, ne 
statum suum in aliquo mutent, K. p. 311. In the vacancy of any 
religious house the patron presented to the churches of which the 
religious had the advouson. — Lucia de Arderne recognovit advoca- 
tionemillam (i. e. ecclesice de Souldern) esse jus prcedictce abbatice 
de Egnesham et post mortem cujusdam Gilberti abbatis vacante 
prcedicta albatia quidam Richardus de Gravesend quondam Lin- 
coln, episcopus loci illius ordinarius, et advocatus prcedictce ab- 
batice contulit illam ecclesiam cuidam Galfridode Stokes clerico suOj 
K. p. 351. When an abby of royal foundation was engaged in 
great debts, at the next vacancy the king took the abby into his 
hands, and committed the custody to some steward, to receive the 
profits and discharge the said incumbrance, K. p. 359. 

Africana. A Turkey, either from Africa the country from 
whence they were brought into these northern parts 3 or perhaps 
from the old Latin Afra, a Bird. — Afras aves esse aiunt, Lat. 
Gloss. MS. — Sex African ce fcemince, K. p. 287. A certain num- 
ber of this sort of fowl was frequently reserved among the provi- 
sions paid to the lord from his custumary tenents. 

Agillarius. A Heyward, i. e. A Herd-ward or keeper of 
the herd of cattel in a common field, sworn at the lord's court 
by solemn oath, of which the form is delivered by Kitchin, Of 
Courts, f. 46. — Quoddam pratum viride quod vocatur Hey wards - 
mere, eo quod pertinent ad qfficium Agillarii domini Lestraunge 3 



o GLOSSARY. 

K. p. 534. Which pratum v'mde was I believe the same with 
what is now called Tadbury balk or The Edburg way balk, in the 
field of Bisiter King's end, of which the grass or herbage is still the 
right and profit of the tithing-man of King's- end. 1 he office of 
Agillarius was of two sorts, first, the common Hey ward of a 
town or village, to supervise the greater cattel or common herd of 
beasts, and keep them within their due bounds; he was otherwise 
called Bubulcus, Cowward, (which is turned into a name of re- 
proach, a pitiful Coward) who if he was a cottager or other servile 
tenant, he was exempted from the costumary woiks and labours, 
because he was presumed to be always attending on his herd, as a 
shepherd on his flock, who had therefore the like privilege. — Sunt 
ill xvi. Cotarii, quorum alii sunt Bubulci domini, alii sunt Pastores, 
qui si non essent, deheret quilibet unum opus singulis septim<.nis per 
annum. Cartul. Glaston. MS. f. 40. Secondly, the Agillarius of 
the lord of a mannor, or of a religious house, who was to take care 
of the tillage and harvest work, to pay the labourers and to see 
there were no encroachments or trespasses committed, &c The 
same in effect with that officer who is called the Fields- man and the 
Tithing man. — Et in solutis diversis hominibus etfosminis primodie 
Julii conductis ad sarculandum diversa blada ut patet per talliam 
contra agillarium hoc anno xvi.io/. x.den. K.p. 5JQ. His wages in 
3 Hen. VI. was a noble, — Et in stipendio Roberti Clerk agillarii 
hoc anno x'ni. sol. iv.den. K.p. 576, 

Agistator. The Agister in a forest, from the French gister 
to lie and feed for a certain giste or rate paid to the king Agister 
in the modern French adjouster, to receive in cattel to be so pas- 
tured or gisted, to keep them within their bounds, and deliver them 
to the owners upon the payment of such terms for their feeding. 
Agistareforestam was to take in cattel to pasture within the bounds 
of the forest, for one month, viz. fifteen days before Michaelmas, 
and fifteen days after, when the running of cattel would be no 
prejudice to the game. Agistator was the forest officer, who was 
to take account of the cattel so agisted, whether they belonged to 
tenants within the forest, who had free gistm en t, or to neighbour- 
ing inhabitants who paid a common rate. The Zgistatores in an 
old version of Chart a de foresta are called Gyst- takers or walkers. 
Omnium regardatorum et agistatorum fores tee prcedictce, K p 209. 
Homines sui reddent pannagium dicto manerio cum agistamentum 
accident, K. p. 229. Eorum animalia agistata fuerunt per duon 
annos jam elapsos, et solvent Joh. Appulby pro agistamento xiii. sol. 
iv. den. K. p. 497. Hence our graziers now call the foreign cattel,. 
which they take in to keep by the week, gisements or juicements. 
(pronounced like the joices in building, corrupted from the French 



r — 



GLOSSARY. 9 

&d]oustment, the cross pieces of timber that are adjusted or fitted 
to make the frame of the floor.) And to gise or juice ground, is 
when the lord or tenant feeds it not with his own stock, but takes 
in other cattel to agist or feed in it. All glossographers agree to 
derive this word from the French gister to he, gest a bed, &c. But 
I rather think agistamentum bears relation to ager, the field or 
feeding place of cattel, and might be the same as agrarium, age- 
rium, agroticum, the profit of feeding cattel upon such a ground or 
field. Unless it were so, I cannot imagine why the duty or levy 
for repairing the banks and walls in Romney-marsh was called 
agistamentum, and the laying such a proportion of this duty upon 
the several estates was called cgistatio, — Tunc sequitur Humerus 
omnium acrarum infra dictum mariscum. — Et etiam agistatio tarn 
in magna wallia de Apuldre quam in parva wallia ad quantitatem 
terrarum. Ordinatio Marisci de Romney, K. p. 20. 

Alta Via. A Highway or common road. Item altavia et ge- 
neralis inter Brehull et Pidinton maneria Lomini Regis omnino es- 
set astopata: which was adjudged a trespass against the king and 
county, K. p. 250. Criticks might dispute whether the Latin altus 
gave name to or was borrowed from the British al high, or alt the 
ascent of any mountain, as Alpen the Alps, from al high, and pen 
a head or top. Whence Alpes past into an appellative for any 
mountainous or rising places. As High gave a common to aHighal 
or Hill. 

Altar agium. The profits arising to the priest from the people's 
offering at the altar. Out of these custumary dues the religious 
assigned a portion to the vicar : so the prior and canons of Saint 
Frideswide, — De prcefatce ecclesicc nostrce (i. e. de Oakle) et ca- 
pellarum ejusdem altaragiis, ut tenemur, congruam portionem re- 
servalam eidem vicario de qua valent commode sustentari,YL. p. 455. 
Sometime the whole Altarage was allotted to the vicar, Ha- 
lebit vicarius de Ceslreton totum altar agium, K. p. 543. The 
regulars and secular priests invented a great many pretty arts to 
augment the altar-offerings. Among other this one was so ludi- 
crous, and conveyed such thoughts of impurity, that it was ex- 
pressly prohibited by the great reformer of his age Bishop Grost- 
head. — Audivimus autem, unde non mediocriter dolemus, quod qui- 
damsacerdotes hujus lucri plenas injungunt posnitentias , qualessunt, 
quod mulier cognita a viro post partum ante suam. purificationem 
deportel deinceps oblationem ad altare cum qualibet muliere puri- 
Jicanda in eadem parochia; — quod penitus inhibemus. — Constit. 
Koberti Episc. Lincoln. MS. f. 3. — Since the Reformation several 
disputes arose what dues were comprehended under the title of 
Altar Ggium, which were thus remarkably determined in a trial in 



10 GLOSSARY. 

the Exchequer in Michaelmass term, 21 Eliz. on Thursday No- 
vember 12 Upon the hearing of the matter betwixt Ralph Tur- 
ner, vicar of West Haddon, and Edward Andrews, it is ordered, 
that the said vicar shall have by reason of the words Altaragium 
cum manso competently contained in the composition of the profits 
assigned for the vicar's maintenance, all such things as he ought to 
have by these words, according to the definition thereof made by 
the reverend father in God John bishop of London, upon confe- 
rence with the civilians, viz. David Hewes, judge of the Admi- 
ralty; Bartholomew Clerk, dean of the Arches; John Gibson, 
Henry Joanse, Laurence Hewes, and Edward Stanhope, all doc- 
tors of the civil law : that is to say, by Altaragium , tithes of wool, 
lambs, colts, calfs, piggs, goslings, chickens, butter, cheese, hemp, 
flax, honey, fruits, herbs, and such other small tithes, with offer- 
ings that shall be due within the parish of West-Haddon. 

And the like case was for Norton in Northamptonshire, heard 
in this court within these two or three years, upon the hearing 
ordered in the like manner. 

Which judgement I presume was grounded on these and the 
like authorities. Vicarius de Colingham haheat totum altaragium , 
exceptis decimisfeoni et nutrimentorum animalium provenientium de 
dominico domini regis. Mon. Ang. torn. 3, p. 139- — Ita quod prcs- 
dictus vicarius — prcedictis oblationibus et obventionibus, non hladis 
out garlis nisi plantatis aut pede fossis ad altaragia communiter 
spectantibus contentus, &c. Will. Thorn, cap. 30, § 4 &c. Yet 
it seems to be certain that the religious when they allotted the Al- 
taragium in part or whole to the vicar or capellane, they meant 
only the custnmary and voluntary offerings at the altar, for some 
divine office or service of the priest, and not any share of the stand- 
ing tithes, whether predial or mixt. 

Amasia. A mistress or concubine, ah amando s as amorous, 
amiable, &c. Henricus primus filius Willielmi Bastard dedit Edi- 
tham JLlzam Forne amasiam suam Roberto de Olleio secundo in ux- 
orem } K. p. 88. 

Amerciamentum. A pecuniary punishment imposed upon of- 
fendors, a la mercie, at the mercy of the court, and therefore in 
our law cases is frequently called Misericordia-, and therefore this 
difference is commonly stated between fines and amercements. 
Fines are punishments certain and determined by some .statutes- 
Amercements are arbitrary impositions proportioned to the fault, 
at the discretion of the court. If the amercement were too griev- 
ous, there was a relief to be sued by a writ, called Moderata mi- 
sericordia. The amercements in county courts or the assises helci 
by itinerant judges were sometimes granted by the king as a 



GLOSSARY. 11 

special profit and privilege to a servant or favourite : so King 
Hen. III. to his brother Richard earl of Cornwall, K. p. 219. 
The amercements in the view of frank-pledge or court-leet were 
due to the lord, and received by his bailiffs: Ballivi comitis Glon- 
cestrice venientquolibet anno semel ad tenendum visum franci plegii 
in eodem manerio, et asportabunt omnia amerciamenta inde prove- 
nientia, K. p. 3 19. A common privilege that persons should be 
amerced by their peers or equals. So in the lords court within 
the mannor of Hedingdon, — Quoties contigerit aliquem prcedicio- 
rum hominum pro aliquo delicto quoquo modo amerciari in eadem 
curia, > per pares suos et non per alios amercientur, et hoc secundum 
modu ,1 delicti, K. p. 320. Amerciamenta illevalilia were such 
amercements, as through poverty or escape of the persons became 
desperate debts, and were deducted in the accompts of the bayliff 
or steward, or collector of rents and dues. The prior and canons 
of Burcester to the receiver of their rents at Kirtlington, — In alio- 
eatis eidem pro amerciaments illevabilibus hoc anno vi. den, K. 
p. 573. 

Anabata. Anaboladium, a Gr t dvaZccWsrQxi, to cast over 
or cover. A cope or sacerdotal vest to cover the back and shoul- 
ders of the priest. Et in bolt rubei say apud Steresbrugge propter 
anabatam jaciendam, iv. sol. viii. den. K. p. 574. 

Anca. A goose, generally female in distinction from the gan- 
der, which in the north they call a steg. Anca seems a corruption 
from Anserina, — Cum decima ancarum et ovorum — por cellos, ancas, 
ova, K. p. 455. Anca, Ancus, was the thigh or hind legg. — Affer 
quatuor panes, affer ancum porci, i. e. a leg of pork. Hence a 
Hanchof venison, up to theHanches in dirt. And hence with some 
allusion to have a Hank upon, to Hanker after. 

Anniversarium, An Anniversary, called by our forefathers 
a Year-day and a Mind-day, i. e. a memorial-day. The yearly 
return of the day of death of any person, which the religious re- 
gistred in their Obitual or Martirology, and annually observed in 
gratitude to their founders and benefactors. It was sometime made 
an express condition in a charter : Yoland Countess of Dreux to 
the abby of Brueil, — quod singulis annis post obitum meum Anni- 
versarium solempniter celebrabunt, K. p. 190. Reginald de Pavelly 
founder of the abby of Lisle-Dieu in the diocese of Rhemes had 
his anniversary there observed October 29, which practise of the 
religious was a great advantage to the history of men and times. 
A pietance or portion of meat and drink was sometime granted for 
this purpose. Henry vicar of Weston gave six shillings yearly 
rent to the abby of Oseney, — Quos quidem attornavi adunam pie- 
tanl'mm faciendam in conventu Usneiensi annuatim in perpetuum in 



12 GLOSSARY. 

die Anniuersarii mei olitus pro anima mea, K. p. 283. This was 
one of the trading arts of the religious, who frequently sold the 
purchase at very considerable rates. Edmund Rede, esq. gave 
largely to the abbat and convent of Dorchester for their sale of 
this privilege, — Unum Anniversarium novem lectionum videlicet 
Plactbo et Dirige semel in anno, K. p. 62(5. Whatsoever was 
given to this use was forfeired to the crown by Stat. 1 Edw. VI. 
cap. 16. — The surviving relations made custumary offerings at the 
altar, at every return of such anniversary, in gratitude to the me- 
mory and in charity to the soul of their departed friend. This the 
religious did sometimes assign for a part of the vicar's maintenance : 
Omnes ohlationes in nuptiis, purificationibus, Annwersariis, m cera, 
pecunia, ovis, autfructibus, K. p. 455. 

Antecessor. The word not so often applied to the ancestor 
of a family as either to the prepossessor of an estate or the prede- 
cessor in an office. Sicut Anttcessores sui tenuerunt melius de me 
et Antecessonbus meis, K, p. 73. — Alexander episcopus Lincoln.— 
Sicut Antecessores nostri earn prcefatce ecclesice de Egnesham dede- 
runt et concesserunt , K. p. 90. 

Appendicia. The same as Pertinentice, the appendages or ap- 
pertinences of any estate. So Simon earl of Northampton gave 
to the Knights Templers Meritonam cum omnibus Appendiciis suis, 
K. p. 110. Hence our Pentices or Pent houses, Appendicia domus, 
a Pent-stock, &c. 

Ap pell ati o. An appeal from some sentence or jurisdiction to 
a presumedly higher judicature, which appeals were frequent, 
both from the civil magistrates to ecclesiastical powers, and again 
from the courts Christian to the common law. This liberty of ap- 
pealing was expresly renounced to make some compacts the more 
firm and unalterable. So the prior and convent of Burcester, 
upon a bargain with the abbat and convent of Gseney, — Renun- 
tiantes in hoc facto omnibus impellationibus super hoc habitis, appeU 
iationibus, in integrum restitutioni, regies prohibition^ et omni alii 
remedio juris canonici et civilis, K. p. 344. Appeals to Rome 
when made common, were so great an interruption of all justice 
that they were forbid and severely punished. So when Gilbert de 
Segreve archdeacon of Oxford in 34 Edw. I. appealed from the 
king's court to the pope, he was summoned to Westminster, and 
obliged to renounce his appeal by oath, and to find pledges for ap- 
pearing at the next parliament, K. p 353. 

Appropriate. The granting a parochial church or the great 
tithes and better profits, ad proprios usus, to the proper uses of 
some religious house, to enjoy for ever : whence they called it 
perpetuum benejicium. The prior and convent of Borcester had 



GLOSSARY. 1.5 

two parts of the great tithe in Compton Basset appropriated to 
them, nomine perpetui beneficii, K. p. 205. Jn this manner was 
the illegitimate birth of most appropriations ; the lay-patrons de- 
voutly and, as they thought, innocently resigned their right of ad- 
vouson to religious houses, who by their interest and money pro- 
cured from the popes and bishops the annexion of all tithes and 
profits to themselves, K p. 312. They had many artificial pre- 
tences to alledge to the pope and the diocesan, to extort their con- 
sent, K. p. 481. The methods of appropriating and the fatal abuse 
of thus robbing church and clergy discoursed at large, K. p. 433. 
The appropriators often encroached upon the remnant of the vicar, 
for which invasion of right the stout vicar of Ellesfeld, in 24 
Edw; I. entered an action against the prior and canons of St. Fri- 
deswide, K. p. 326. A canon or other religious who was not a 
monk, by the pope's indulgence could hold a vicarage with his 
station in the convent. — Proviso tamen quod ecclesia (scil. de Acle) 
per idoneum canomcum domus vestrce prcedictce {scil. S, Fride- 
swidce) p'out sede apostolica vobis est indullum, et antiquitus exti- 
tit consuetum, deserviatur ; qui quidem canonicus tanquam vica- 
rius perpetuus a loci diocesano curain anlmarum recipiet, K. p. 375. 
Unum de canonicis nostras ut olini fuisse dignosciiur rite elec- 
turn et ad ejusdetn ecclesice vicariam legitime institution accepimus, 
K. p. 455. The religious took advantage of the vacancy of a 
church, and then prevailed with the patron to appropriate and give 
them immediate possession. So Robert Gait in the time of Hugo. 
Wells bishop of Lincoln gave the vacant church of Hampton 
Gay to the abbat and convent of Oseney, and then notified it to 
the bishop, desiring him to give them admittance. — Noverit discre- 
iio vestra quod dtfuncio G. persona ecclesice de Hampton me 
tandem ecclesiam vacantem dedisse et concessisse in perpetuam elee- 
mosinam ahbati et conventui de Oseney , K. p. 404. At other 
times the religious obtained leave to appropriate a church of their 
own patronage, when it should next be vacant, and then, impa- 
tient for their prey, bought out the incumbent, or got it void by- 
resignation or exchange, K. p. 407 . One great mischief of ap- 
propriations was this : In the ordination of a vicarage the altarage 
or voluntary oblations were often divided between the vicar and the 
religious, which soon lessened the charity and piety of Christian 
people, who grew less free in their offerings when they found a 
great share must go away from the parish priest, to whom they 
designed that bounty, K. p. 455. The religious very apt to oppress 
the vicar, by throwing procurations and other burdens on them, 
and particularly when they had covenanted to maintain a capel- 
Jane in some chapel of ease within the parish, they shifted off that 



14 GLOSSARY. 

charge and cast it on the vicar, K. p. 588. That the bishops might 
not loose by granting their assent to appropriations, they sometime 
compounded with the religious for an annual pension to answer the 
dues that might otherwise arise to their see from the succession of 
rectors. So in the appropriating of Merton to the abby of Egne- 
sham, — Reseruamus insuper nobis et successoribus nostris episcopis 
Lincoln, nomine recompensationis indemnitads et commoditatis quos 
de dicta ecclesia obvenire solebat in singulis vacationibus ejusdem, 
et poterit similiter obvenire, pensionem annuam viginti solidorum ex 
causa consimili, K. p. 483. One great and popular pretension of 
appropriating benefices to the use of the religious, was to enable 
them the better to relieve the poor, and in the form of appropri- 
ation it was sometimes expressly ordained that a perpetual portion 
should be allotted at the discretion of the bishop to relieve the indi- 
gent parishioners. So when the church of Charlton upon Ottmoor 
was given to the nuns of Henwode com. Warwic. — Et etiampro 
recreatione pauperum parochianorum ipsius ecclesice alia perpetua 
portio moderanda arbitrio diocesani loci deputari debet. K. p. 522, 
524. After the Statute of Mortmain the religious still carried on 
their gainful trade, by obtaining a dispensation from the king. So 
in the appropriation of Merton to the abby of Egnesham, K.p. 482. 
Fid. Vicarage. 

Appropriate ad honorem. To bring a mannor within the 
extent and liberty of such an honour. Petrus de Asherugge tunc 
seneschallus honoris Sancti Walerici appropriavit dictum manerium 
ad honorem Sancti Walerici, K. p. 336. 

Appropriare communam. To separate and enclose an open 
common, or part of it. — Quod possint sibi appropriare et includere 
pro voluntate sua tres acras prccdiclce placice, i. e. in commUni pas- 
tura, K. p. 336. 

Apprenticius. An Apprentice or young person bound by in- 
dentures to a master, who upon such covenants is to teach him his 
mystery or trade. In 12 Ed w. III. Covjirmavi Willielmo fratri 
meo apprenticio apud London, K. p. 449. This I think is the oldest 
authority for the name of a servile apprentice: at least I have met 
with no mention of them till the beginning of the next reign, 
when Henry de Knighton, sub an. 1381, Apprentidi quoque re- 
lictis magistris suis illuc accurrebant. And Thomas Walsingham 
in Ric. II. p. 301, De Londoniis multi apprentidi, plures servi, 
sump (is a Ibis capuciis, invitis magistris et dominis sunt profecti. 
The students and professors of the common law had the appella- 
tion of apprentidi ad legem, apprentidi ad barras, juris regni 
apprentidi. Of which titles see Selden's Notes on Fortescue., 
p. 2. 



GLOSSARY. 15 

Archidiaconus. Archdeacons were at first employed by the 
bishops in more servile duties, and always in subservience to the 
urban or rural deans of Christianity, to whom they were as much 
inferiour as their order of deacon was to that of priest. Till by the 
advantages of a personal attendance on the bishop, and a delegation 
to examine and report some causes, and a commission to visit 
some remoter parts of a diocese, their power and dignity was ad- 
vanced above the arch-presbyter or dean, K. p. 638. Arch- 
deacons within the diocese of Lincoln collected the spiritualities of 
the bishop, and paid him some pensions or portions out of their 
office : — Summa redditus de quo archidiaconi respondent episcopo 
Lincoln, per an. ccxvi/. xvis. v'ind. K. p. 350. 

Argentum Album. Silver coin or current money. By 
Doomsday tenure some rents to the king were paid in argento 
alio, common silver money, others in libris ursis tt pensatis, in 
the metal and full weight. So the king's mannor at Brehuil red- 
dit per annum xxviii. lihras de alio argento, et pro foresta xii. /£- 
Iras ursas et pensatas, K. p. 16.5. Hence in the next age that 
rent which was paid in mony was called blanch-fearm , now the 
white-rent: and what they paid in provision was termed black- 
mail. 

Arietum levatio. An old sportive exercise, which seems to 
have been the same with running at the quintan or quintal, which 
was to fix a post perpendicularly in the ground, and place on the 
top of it a slender beam turning on a spindle, with a slob or flat 
board at the one end, and a bag of dirt or sand on the other j that 
while the rider strikes at the shield or board, he must shew his 
strength and dexterity to escape a blow from the turn of the other 
end. This sport might be called Arietum levatio, because such 
violent manner of riding at and striking did seem to resemble the 
Roman ways of playing their battering rams: or rather because 
the shield or board upon the striking end was made in the fashion 
of a ram's head : or because they fastened the horns of a ram at 
the returning end, to make the blow more comical. This custu- 
mary English sport, practised usually at weddings, was either so 
ludicrous or so dangerous that it was often forbid by ecclesiastical 
authority. Among the inquiries to be made by the archdeacons 
within the diocese of Lincoln, an. 1233. An alicubi leventur ari- 
etesy yeljiant scotalla, v,el decertetur in prceeundo cum vexillo ma- 
tricis ecclesice. In the synod at Worcester, an. 1240, can. 38. a 
strict command was given, Ne intersint ludis inhonestis, nee susti- 
neant ludos fieri de rege et regina, nee arietes levari, nee palestras 
publicas. There be two other authorities that seem more directly 
to imply it was the same with the quintan. A constitution of that 



<' 



l6 GLOSSARY. 

great preserver of church discipline Bishop Grosthead commands 
that in every church should be published a prohibition, Ne quis- 
quam levet arietes super rotas, vel alios ludos statuat, in quibus de- 
certalur pro bravio, nee hujusmodi ludis quisquam intersit. And 
another constitution of Walter bishop of Durham, an. 1255. In- 
super interdicimus leuationes arietum super rotas, et ludos quibus 
decertatur ad bravium exequendum. In both which injunctions the 
expression of levare super rotas seems to determine it a versatile 
sport, like a beam or rafter turning equilibrious upon a pole or post 
erect. And the bravium or prize which was to be given to the 
victor is so described in the quintal by Mat. Paris, sub an. 1253. 
Eo tempore juvenes Londinenses statuto pavone pro bravio, ad sta- 
dium quod quintena vulgariter dicitur, vires proprias et equorum 
cursus sunt experti. From whence I am apt to conclude that quin- 
tana and arietum levatio were the same manly exercise, or at 
least that the latter was but a varied improvement of the former, 

K~.-p.2i. 

Arma Dare. To make a Knight. An. 1144. Q, 10, King 
Steph. Ego Brientius Jilius Comitis quern bonus Rex Henricusnu- 
trivit, et cui arma dedit et honorem, K. p. 101. 

Arma Capere. To be made a Knight. An. 1278. 5, 6\ Edw. 
III. A die quo dictus Covies (scil. Henricus de Lacy) arma mili- 
taria a Domino Henrico Rege patre nosiro cepit, K. p. 289. 

Armtgeri. IN'ot only a title of dignity but the common appel- 
lation of servants, especially in convents. I suppose the better 
sort of servants, yet such as wore liveries in the priory of Burcester, 
where in 4 Hen. VI. the prior and bursar accounted, — Et in 
blodeo panno emp*o pro Armigeris et valectis Prioris de Johanne 
Bandye de Magna Tue, K. p. 5/6. This is the same servile office 
which by Sir Henry Spelman is called qucedam species armigero- 
rum, in the abby of Battle, com. Suss., where the abbat and con- 
vent granted to Hugh Fraunceis armigero suo, a yearly pension or 
wages, and a custumary livery, ac etiam liberaturam nostram, de 
secta armigerorum nostrorum, quotiens nos liberaturam generalem 
dare contigerit - — Necnon tabulam suam infra idem monasterium in 
aula nostra prout alicui armigerorum nostrorum ibidem deservitur seu 
deservietur, dum tamen idem Hugo Fraunceis nobis et successoribus 
nostris suum congruum servitium medio tempore, corporis sui vale- 
tudine durante, realiter exhibeat. Possibly these Armigeri of the 
religious (like the military armour-bearers) might be their retinue 
of the better rank, who carried their banners in any public proces- 
sion, and attended in some other of the more gentile offices. As 
our bedelli Armigeri, Esquire bedels. 

Arreragium. Arrears or debts unpaid within the due times 



GLOSSARY. 17 

From the French arrier, a retro, behind. — Faciatis habere feodum 
suum una cum arreragiis suis, K. p. 289, — Omnimoda computa et 
arreragia computorum ac relevia exitus et alias Jorisfactas siveforis- 
Jacturas et alia dehita qucecunque, K. p. 475. Respondent de ar- 
reragiis ultimi compoti, K. p. 570. Hence the Rere of an army, 
the Rier-band j the Rier-county, or some place appointed by the 
sheriff after the end of his office to receive the king's arrears. 

Articulus. An Article or complaint exhibited by way of 
libel in a court Christian. — Possint eos et eorum successores per 
omnem censuram ecclesiasticam ad omnium et singulorum prcemis- 
sorum observation em absque articuli seu libelli petitionee et quocun- 
que strepitu juciiciali compellere, K. p. 344. 

Arura pro Aratura. Ploughing. Una arura, one day's work 
at the plough, — Tenet in bondagio et debet unam aruram in yeme, 
et unam sarculaturam, K. p. 401. Hence in Wiltshire to Ear is 
to plough, and Earing is a day's ploughing. 

Assartum, Essartum, Eocartum. A piece of land within the 
limits of a forest, grubbed up or divested of the wood and trees, and 
converted into tillage. Manwood derives it from an old French 
word, assartir, to make plain. Spelman thinks Essartum was from 
the Latin exertum, pulled or rooted up. Some derive it a sar- 
riendoy weeding of fields. Skinner runs into more fanciful con- 
jectures, a Lat. exarturare, i. e. artus seu ramos arboris descindere, 
arborem detruncare, vel si malis a Lat. exsaltuare, (i. e.) saltum in 
agrum cultum iransmutare, facili sane 1 in e transitu. Mr. Som- 
ner is much more rational and happy, who thinks exartum to be a 
contraction of exaratum. To which opinion the learned Du Fresne 
inclines. Alii denique ab Exaro, uncle Exaratum, ager exaratus, 
prcescissus, et per contr actionem Exartum, uii scribi passim in vetus- 
tioribus chartis observare est. Quam ultimam sententiam fulciunt 
tabulce veteres in Chronico Besuensi, an. 5. Ludov. Imp. p. 513, 
ubi Exaratum scribitur. Mdificiis desuper positis, campisque, pra- 
tis, sylvis, exaratis, pomiferis, &c. Simon de Gerardmulin con- 
firmed to the abby of Missenden the chappel of Holy Cross in 
Pidington, et totum assartum quod adjacet, K. p. 108. — Red" 
dendo pro prcedicto assarto unum denarium, K. p. 178. Land not 
to be assarted within the bounds of a forest without license from 
the king, nor could that be obtained without a previous inquisition 
Ad quod dampnurn — Jurati dicunt quod foret dampnum et valde no- 
cumentum forestce, si tres acres assartce essent in quoddam planum 
quod vocatur Fernhurst inforesta de Btrnwode, K. p. 249. 

Assisa, ab Assidendo. Originally a court wherein the judges 
as Assessors did hear and determine any cause. Thence the word 
Assisa was translated to signifie an ordinance or statute-law, a 

c 



18 GLOSSARY. 

trial, a jury, a writ, &c. We now apply the word to no other 
court of judicature but the county courts held by the itinerant 
judges, called the Assises. 

Assisa Magna. A more solemn trial by a jury of twelve or 
more knights to be elected and returned by four other knights, to 
give their verdict in a cause, prosecuted per breve de recto, i. e. 
where the dispute lies not of the bare possession, but of the right 
and property : distinguished from the assisa parva or minor, where 
the question is only of possession, in which the jury were twelve 
ordinary legal or free-men returned by the sheriff. Roger de 
Amory quit claimed to the abbat and convent of Oseney, two 
knights fees in Weston, — Uncle eos implacitavit in curia domini 
regis per breve de recto, et prosecutum est quousque dictus abbas et 
conventus posuerunt se super magnam assisam, K. p. 257. Johan- 
nes de Handlo defendit jus suum, et ponit se in magna assisa domi- 
ni regis, K. p. 415. In a great assise the sheriff returned four 
knights of the same county by the king's precept, — Vice comiti 
Oxon. per breve nostrum de judicio prceceptum fuit quod venire 
faciat coram, vobis quatuor milites de com. prcediclo, K. p. 446: 
which four knights were to appear in court at a day prefixed, and 
there in presence of the plantiffand defendant, or their attornies, 
were to elect out of themselves and others, twelve, thirteen, or 
sometimes sixteen knights, to be summoned against another day 
of hearing, — Quatuor milites in propriis personis suis venerunt et 
super sacr amentum suum in pr essentia par Hum prcedictarum elege- 
runt de seipsis et aliis sexdecim milites, K. p. 485. — Ponunt se in 
magna assisa domini regis — et offerunt domino regi dimidiam mar- 
cam pro inquisiiione seisince prcedictce, — dies datus est partibus 
prcedictis, — ad audiendam electionem magnce assisce dom. regis, et 
tunc venerunt quatuor milites ad Jaciendam electionem illam, 
K. p. 480. The twelve or more knights elected by the first four 
were to be all such as held lands and tenements within the county, 
or else incapable to serve on the jury, — Quidam illorum de terris 
et tenementis quce tempore electionis prcedictce in com. prcedicto ha- 
luerunt, se totaliter dimiserunt, K. p. 446. If between the elec- 
tion of knights and the time of trial any of them were dead or sick, 
or dispossest of estates within the county, others by the king's pre- 
cept to the sheriff were to be elected in their room, — Si vobis 
constiterit aliquos de prcedictis militibus sic electis mortuos esse, sive 
de terris et tenementis suis prcedictis se dimisisse, sive perpetuo lan- 
guidos esse, ui est dictum, tunc loco eorum alios legale* milites ejus- 
dem com. eligi et ulterius in eodem negotio facere, life. K. p. 446. 
If the jurors so elected refused or negected to appear, the sheriff 
was commanded to distrain their goods and chattels, and arrest 



GLOSSARY* 19 

their persons and bring them into court. — Precipimus till — quod 
distringas Edmundum de Cornubia, militem &c. electos in curia 
nostra — per omnes terras et catalla sua in bailiva tua — et quod 
habeas corpora eorum coram justitiariis nostris apudEbor. K. p. 446. 

Assise judicium. Judgement of the court given against 
plantiff or defendant upon default, — Ipsi non veniunt ad hum diem, 
unde Judicium Assises capiatur versus eos per eorum defaltam, 
K. p. 351. 

Assisa Forestce. The laws or particular orders of the Forest 
establisht in an Assise or court held by the forest officers, — Johan- 
nes jilius Nigelli habet in Iosco domini regis Housbote et Heyboie 
cum omnibus feodis forestario pertinentibus secundum assisam fo- 
rester, K. p. 266. — Priorissa de Littlemore devastavit boscum suum 
de Shottore contra assisam forestce, K. p. 498. 

Assisa ultimce prcesentationis. Assise of darrein presentment. 
A trial for the right of patronage by enquiring who took the pre- 
cedent tarns of presentation, for the more easie discovering and 
fixing the property of the advouson.—- 77/o?«as abbas de Egnesham 
per attornalum suum optulit se versus Luciam quce fuit uxor Tho- 
rn.ee de Leu k nor e et Petrum de Schevyndon quod essent hie ad hunc 
diem audituri Assisam ultimce prcesentationis , K. p. 351. 

Assisa panis et cervisice. The power or privilege of Assising or 
adjusting the weights and measures of bread and beer. As the 
weight of bread prescribed by the vice-chancellor, and supervised 
by the clerk of the market, is still called the Size of bread : So 
half a crust or a farthing bread in Oxford is in Cambridge called a 
Size of bread. And a servitor is there a Sizar, or one who is to 
live upon such an Assized allowance. Hence to Size, i. e. to match 
cloatb, silk, &c. to get more of the same Assize or proportion. 
Hence Size for height and stature, of a middle Size. Sizely in the 
North is proud and coy, &c. — Sir Ric. D'Amory in 18 Edw. 11. 
was Sysor, or had the assize of bread and beer within the city and 
suburbs of Oxford for the yearly rent of one hundred shillings : 
but on complaint of the university and city, the king granted back 
that privilege to the mayor and vice-chancellor, K. p. 393. 

Assisus. Dimised or firmed out for such an assise or certain 
rent in mony or provisions. Terra assisa was commonly opposed 
to terra dominico : this last being held in demesne or occupied by 
the lord 5 the other let out to inferiour tenants. So among the 
lands of the Knights Templars belonging to their preceptory of 
Sandford, — Apud Covele de dono MatUdis regince habentur quatuor 
hidce, quarum duce sunt in dominico, et due assises ab hominibus, 
K. p. 141. Apud Meritone duce in dominico, et quinque assisce ab 
hominibus } ib. Hence redditus assisus, the set or standing rent. 

c 2 



20 GLOSSARY. 

Sunt ibidem de redditu assiso, xh. K. p. 314. Summa reddiluum 
assisorum de mar.erio, K. p. 355. Hence to Assess or allot the 
proportion and rales in taxes and payments by assessors in assess- 
ment. 

Association. On the death of King Edw. T. Henry Lacy 
earl of Lincoln, Anthony Bee bishop of Durham, and divers others 
barons, entered into a solemn association to defend King Edw. II. 
and the rights of his crown, K, p. 355. In 5 Edw. II. Thomas 
earl of Lancaster and several peers associated by solemn oath to 
relieve the oppression of Holy Church, and to recover the just 
liberties of the kingdom, K. p. 364. 

Attachiare. To Attach or seize upon. Attachiare bona, to 
distrain goods. Attachiare personam, to arrest a person. From 
the Fr. attacker, to attack or take into custody, which the 
learned Du Fresne supposes derived from the old Gallic tasca, 
taschia, the rent of land or tenement, from the British tasc tribute, 
tascyd collector of the tribute, (whence our tasque or imposed 
labour. A tasquer or day labourer. A tasque-master, &rc.) So as 
attacker was no more at first than to gather rent or collect tribute, 
or else upon refusal to take it by force, as a debt and forfeiture to 
the state. — Tibi prcecipimus quod ipsum Ychelum attackies, ita quod 
corpus ejus habeas coram baronibus, K. p. 328. Robertus Frere 
et Joshua Phillippes attachiatifuerunt, quod transierunt cum carec 
tis suis ultra pratum domini de Langeford, K. p. 458. 

Attachiamenta bonorum. A distress taken upon the goods 
of persons sued for personal estate, by the legal attachiatores or 
bayliffs, and kept in their custody as a security to answer the 
action. It was a privilege granted to the abbat and convent of 
Oseney, to have the Attachments of all their tenants quit-claimed 
or released, — Omnia attachiamenta hominum noslrorum et plegio- 
rum suorum habenda quieta clamata sunt, K. p. 196. 

Attachiamenta Forestce. All timber toppings and other vert 
felled or cut within the liberties of a forest without the view of the 
verdor and license of the king, were forfeited and to be Attached 
by the fores tar, — Nichil de boscis prcedictis caper e potuerunt nisi 
per liberationem, forestarii — absq. attachiamento et impedimento fo~ 
restarii prcedicti, K. p. 370. 

Attachiamenta de spinis et bosco. The privileges granted to 
the officers of a forest to take to their own use thorns, brush, and 
windfall trees within such precincts. So John Fitz-Nigell fores- 
tar of Bernwode, — debet habere feodum in bosco domini regis vide 
licet attachiamentum de spinis de bosco suo, et de bosco qui vento 
prostituitur, K p. 209. 

Attornare Rem. To Attourn or turn over mony and goods, 



GLOSSARY. 21 

t. e. to assign and appropriate them to a certain use, — quos quidem 
quatuor solidos — attornavi ad unam pietantiam faciendam in con- 
ventu Oseneiensi, K. p. 283. 

Attornare Personam. To depute a representative or proxy, 
as in trials at common law, the plantiffor defendant retained attor- 
natum suum, positum in loco suo ad lucrandum vel perdendum, 
K. p. 405. 

Averia. Cattle. Sir Henry Spelman deduces the word from 
the Fr. ovre (work), as if chiefly working cattle. But more probably 
from avoir, to have or possess ; the word sometime including all 
personal estate, as catalla did all goods and chattels. But com- 
monly taken for all kind of stock or feeding cattle,— Ad introitum 
et exitum cum averiis meis et suis, K. p. I89. Communem pastu- 
ram ad averia sua, K. p 227- Propriam habet communam ad 
omnia averia in sylua dictorum prioris et conventus, K. p. 489. 
In Northumberland they now say, a false Aver, for a sluggish horse 
or lazy beast, perhaps from averia, yet the honoured Spelman 
rather derives it from the old Lat. ajfri or affira, (country horses,) 
and cites the proverb, A false Aver or Afer. In the north they 
likewise use average for what in Kent we call the gratten, in other 
parts the eddish, in Wales the adlodh, the roughings, the stubble 
and pasture left in corn-fields after the harvest is carried in. From 
averia comes averare, which Spelman interprets to carry goods in 
a waggon or upon loaded horses, but it seems rather to drive 
cattle to a fair or market, — Omnes homines [i.e. de Kyngston) debent 
ter averare ad Brisloliam* Cartul, Glaston. Abbat. MS. f. 40. 

Aver-Corn. A reserved rent in corn paid to religious houses 
by- their tenants or firmers, which Mr. Somner deduces from the 
Fr. ovre or ovrage (work), as if corn drawn to the lord's granary by 
the working cattle of the tenant. But it seems more natural (like 
averia) from avoir, to have or receive such a quantity of corn. I 
suppose it owing to the Sax. Cyrtic-rceat or Church-scot, a 
measure of corn brought to the priest on St. Martin's day, as an 
oblation for the first fruits of the earth. Under this title the re- 
ligious had a reserve of corn paid yearly, as in an inquisition of the 
estate of the abby of Glastonbury, an. 1201, 2 King John, — 
Waltone reddit in gabulo assiso ivJib. xvi.sol. — de Churchscet ii. 
summce et dimid. frumenti. Cartul. Abbat. Glaston. MS. f. 38. 
"Which curchscet by a Norman epithet might easily be called aver- 
corn. Possibly from hence the Northern word havers oats, the like 
asperate as in haver de pois for avoir du poids. But more probably 
from a German original, habern oats in the High Dutch. 

Auditores. Those religious in a convent who were deputed 
to state, examine, and pass the house- accompU, — Computavit co- 



22 GLOSSARY. 

ram dominis — Auditorihus depute t is, K. p. 287. Hence the Au- 
ditors, Auditory, Audit-house, Audit-time, in cathedral and col- 
legiate bodies. 

Aves Dich. A corruption of Offa's Ditch, which seems to have 
been at first the boundary between the West Saxon and Mercian 
kingdoms, and afterward maintained to keep off the incursions of 
the Danes into these parts, from Northampton and other quarters. 
It appears to have been continued from Wansdike in Wilts, to 
Mixbury, com Oxon. p. 40. A Dike in the north is a ditch to a 
dry hedge, where the wet ditch is called a Sough. From Dike 
comes the southern Doke, a deep furrow in arable land or any 
sudden fall of ground. 

Auxilium petere. To pray aid in a suit or cause, i. e. when 
an inferiour tenant is impleaded and not capable to defend the 
right in his own name, he prayeth aid of the superiour lord to as- 
sist and Justine his plea, — Johannes de Handlo implacitatus de ma- 
nerio de Pidington — dicit quod ipse non potest prcedicto priori sine 
ipso domino rege respondere, et petit auxilium de ipso domino rege, 
K. p. 414. 

Auxilium Curiae. A precept or order of court for the citing 
or sub-pcenaing a party, — Vocat inde ad warantia.m Johannem Sut- 
ton de Dudley chevaler et Isabellam uxor em ejus, ut habeat eos hie 
in octab. S. Michaelis per auxilium curicc, K. p. 477- 

Auxilium facere alicui in curia regis. To be another's friend 
and solicitor in the king's court, a fiduciary office solemnly granted 
by some courtiers to their dependants in the country. — Sciant prce- 
sentes et futuri quod ego Bernardus de S. Wdlerico concessi Rogero 
de Bercheiey et hceredibus suis auxilium et consilium meum in curia 
domini mei regis Jnglicu, K. p. 126. 

Auxilium Regis. Fid. Scutagium. 

Auxilium Vicecomitum. The aid or customary dues paid to 
the sheriff for the better support of his office. Prior de Kime 
com. Line, tenet duas carucatas terrce in Thorpe per servitium xl. 
denariorum per annum ad auxilium vice comitis. Mon. Ang. 
torn. 2, p. 245. a. — An exemption from this duty was sometime 
granted by the king as a special privilege. So King Henry II. to 
the priory of St. Osith of Chich in Essex, — Sint ipsi et omnes ho- 
mines sui liberi et quieti de auxiliis vicecomitum et prcepositorum 
hundredorum, ib. torn. 2, p. 184. So King Henry II. granted to 
the tenants within the honours of Walingford and Bercamsted, — 
ut quieti sint de auxilio vicecomitum et servientum, K. p. 114. 

Aysiamenta. Easements, from the Fr. aise, easie : or from 
the Sax. Ei^, Kasie or ready, which Chaucer calls Eith and Eth: 
and the Northumbrians still use Eeth, the Welsh Esmwyth. In. 



GLOSSARY. 23 

grants of conveyance and dimise Aysiamenta did include any liberty 
of passage, high-way, water course, or other custumary benefit for 
the ease and accommodation of the owners or inhabitants of any 
house, or the tenants of any land. — Quiete bene in pace et jure he- 
reditaria in omnibus aysiamentis infra villam et extra ad dictum 
messuagium — pertinentibus, K. p. IQ4. — Cum omnibus pertinentiis 
suis valoribus et aysiamentis, K. p. 229. Hence a house of office 
is called an Easement, commonly a house of Ease. 

Axatio carectce. Putting on the axle-tree of a waggon, — Et 
in uno axe empto cum axatione unius carectce, K. p. 5^4. 

B. 

Baius Equus. A Bay horse. From Lat. Badius. Gr. Ba'lSiog 
a Ba<;, et Bofibv, a bough or branch of a palm-tree ; so as Badius 
was coloris phaenicei. — Et de uno eguo baio empto de IVillielmo Salt 
ad stab ulum prior is xxvi.jo/. v'ui.den. K. p. 5j6. Hence Baiard 
an appellative for horse. Prov. None so bold as blind Bayard. — 
Or in Chaucer's phrase, 

" Ye ben as bold as is Bayard the blind." 

Hence Bayard's- watering, Bayard's-green, &c. 

Balliva. A Bailywick. From the Fr. bailler, to deliver or 
commit. Ballivus was the person to whom an authority and trust 
was committed within such a district. Balliva was the whole di- 
strict within which the said trust was to be executed. A whole 
county was so called in respect of the sheriff. A whole barony in 
respect of the lord or baron. A hundred in respect of the chief 
constable. A mannor in respect of the steward. A circuit of 
villages and hamlets, with respect to the capital mannor, where the 
religious held their court or had a mansion-house. So the abbat 
and convent of Oseney had their balliva de Weston, which con- 
tained Weston, Blechesdon, Burcestre, Chestreton, Wrechwike, 
Bucknell, Audley, Arncote, and Northbrook, K. p. 60. The 
circuit within the liberties of the constable of the castle of Wal- 
lingford, called by him Balliva mea, K. p. 112. The sheriff of 
every county had two itinerant bayliffs, who were to execute writs 
and judgements, &c. — Johannes Laundels vicecomes Oxon. dilectis 
sibi Johanni de Baldindon et Roberto Louches hac vice ballivis suis 
itinerantibus salutem, K. p. 487. The secular clergy sometimes 
took these mercenary offices, prohibited by a constitution of the 
excellent bishop Grosthead, — Ad amputandum quocjue omnem cu- 
piditatis speciem inhib emus fir miter non solum ordinaria sed speciali 
auctoriiate apostolica, ne beneficiali vel ad sacros ordines promoti 



24 GLOSSARY. 

sint vicecomites vel justitiarii seculares vel lallivas teneant, undelai- 
cis potestatibus obligantur ad ratiocinia de ballivis eisdem reddendo. 
Constit. Rob. Episc. Lincoln. MS. Fid. Propositus. 

Barrow. A large hillock or mount of earth raised or cast up, 
which may seem to have been one of the Roman tumuli or sepul- 
chers, K. p. 18. From the Sax. Boepg, a raised heap of earth, 
or rather from Beapu, Beopa. which was commonly taken for a 
grove or toft of trees on the top of a hill. From the old Gallic 
Bar, a high place, from whence several towns in Italy and France 
from their lofty situation had this name of Bar and Bari. One of 
the most noted mountains in North Wales is called Berriw. Hence 
the Bars, properly a partition set upon rising steps. The Bar or 
gate of a city, as Temple Bar in London, Bootham Oar in York. 
The Barriers or mound to fence off the croud in military sports. 

Bas-Chevaliers. Low or inferiour knights, as distinguished 
from barons and bannerets, who were the chief or superiour 
knights, K. p. 3/8. Hence we now call our bare simple knights, in- 
feriour to baronets, Knights Bachellors, i. e. Bas-Chevaliers. 
Which in all likelyhood gave name to the academical degree of 
Bachellors, as a quality lower than that of masters and doctors. 
So in France they call the suburbs the Bas-ville, or the inferiour 
town. The learned Spelman very rationally derives the oppro- 
brious name of Bastard from the Fr. Bas, and Sax. yteortt, rise or 
original, as a person of a base and vile extract. The same termi- 
nation remains in Upstart, a fellow of a new and late rise. 

Basse. A collar for cart-horses made of flags, — In trihus 
coleris, uno basse, cum trihus capistris, emptis apud Sierishrugge, 
K. p. 574. Hence the round matted cushion of flags used for 
kneeling in churches is called Basse, in Kent a Trush. 

Batellus. A boat or small marine vessel. It is a very frivo- 
lous conjecture of Dr. Skinner, — Nescio an nostrum Boat ortum 
sit a Teut. Bott nuntius q. d. cymba internuntia classis. It is 
more certain the Lat. Batus, Hispan. Batel y Ital. Batelio, came 
from the Sax. Bat, and that from the old Brit. Bad, which in 
present Welsh and Irish is a i oat. — Possessiones, naves, latellos, 
ac bona et catalla sua qucecunque, K. p. (55?. Hence a Bottom, 
which is still a common word for a marine vessel of burden, a good 
Bottom : whence the naval term of Lottomry, when the master of 
a ship borrows mony upon the credit of his-' vessel, or a safe voyage. 
Botellus, the lower part of the belly, which we now call the Bot- 
tom of the belly, — Si stomachus vel botellus perforatus fuerit, ita 
ut stercus per vulnus exicrit. Leg. Frison Tit. 22. 

Beaumont. Bellas Mons, Fair Mount. Several places of as- 
cent and fair prospect were so called by the Normans. As the 



GLOSSARY. 25 

king's house in Oxford : the plat of an old fortification at Mix- 
bury, &c. 

Bedellus. A Bedell or cryer. Sax. Bybei a Bybbe, to pub- 
lish, as to Bid and for Bid the banns of matrimony, Bidding of 
prayers. Hence the university Bedels, the Bedell of beggars. 
The rural deans had their Bedels, which we now call apparitors 
and summoners, to cite the clergy and church officers to visitations, 
and execute the orders of the court Christian, K. p. 648. 

Bedrip, Bedrepe, Wedbedrip. From Sax. Bibban, to pray, 
and Repe to rip or cut corn. So as Bedrepe was the custumary 
service which inferiour tenants paid to their lord in cutting down 
their corn, or doing any other work or labour in the field. It 
chiefly related to the days of work in harvest, — Tenentes de Ewel 
debent venire in autumpno ad precariam quce vacatur a la Bedripe. 
Placit. 10 Hen. III. Ernaldus carectator tenet unum messuagium 
et duas acras terrce in duobus campis (scil. de Pidington) et reddit 
per annum duos solidos et alias consuetudines ad bedrepium in au- 
tumpno, K. p.496. From the Eng. Bidding or praying, it was 
called in Lat. Precaria, which did likewise comprehend any days 
or season, when the said servile tenants as Beadsmen were to per- 
form any duty or labour for their lord, which were commonly 
called Bind-days, i. e. Bidden-days, when ad preces domini, at the 
beads, or petition of the lord or his steward, the tenants were to 
give their custumary attendance and labour, — Debet venire (juoli- 
bet anno ad duas precarias carucce cum caruca sua. Custumar. de 
Bello, f. 60. Called also Precatura and Preces, which were at 
any indefinite time, — Quilibet carectarius manerii debet arare tres 
acras et dimidiam inter festum sancti Michaelis et sancti Martini: 
et invere debet arare bis ad precaturas, et in cestate, &c— Quili- 
bet debet arare ad duas preces in hyeme, et ad duas preces in vere. 
Cartul. Abbat. Glaston. MS. f. 40. And therefore the more so- 
lemn Bedrip in harvest was called Magna Precaria, to distinguish 
it from the other Bidden-days in any different season, and diffe- 
rent work, — Johannes Boy land tenet unum cotagium — et debet in- 
venire unum hominem ad magnam precariam in autumpno. Custu- 
mar. de Bello, f. Q/. It was likewise called Wedbedrip, from the 
Sax. yeb, a covenant or agreement, (whence to Wedd, Wedding, 
Wedded husband, &c ) as if a league or compact made between 
the lord and tenant, — Robertus filius Nicholai Germ ay n tenet 
unum messuagium et dimidiam virgatum in bondagin ad voluntatem 
domince, et debet unam aruram in ytme, et unam sarculaturam, et 
debet wedbedrip pro voluntate domince, K. p. 401. Alicia quce 
fuit uxor Ricardi le Grey — faciei unam sarculaturam et unam wed- 
ledripam et levationem feoni, K. p. 402. Hence a Bedde-ale or 



26 GLOSSARY. 

Bid-ale was an assignation made for neighbours to meet and drink 
at the house of new married persons, or other poor people., and 
then for all the guests to contribute to the house-keepers. 

Bellum Dueilum. Duel or combat. An old custumary way 
of trial by arms, wherein the appellant or challenger and the de- 
fendant or accepter were at a fixt time and place to engage in 
single combat, either by themselves or by their deputies, and the 
cause was adjudged to the conquerour. This fierce practice was 
allowed and confirmed by the laws of William the Conquerour, 
cap. 68, 6g ; and those of Hen. I. cap. 45, 4p, and some new orders 
prescribed for the regulation of it. Leg. Hen. I. cap. 59. So that 
it is an evident mistake in the late ingenious author of An Intro- 
duction to the History of England, that " William the Conqueror 
endeavoured to abolish two ancient forms of trial used among the 
Saxons with great reverence, even during their Christian worship. 
— These were the trials ordeal and of camp tight, K. p. 246. — - 
Both these sorts of trial this king abolished as unchristian and un- 
just, and reduced all causes to the judgement of equals, or of a 
jury of twelve neighbours, and by legal forms," K. p. 24Q. When 
it is certain the trial of camp-fight or duel was no custom peculiar 
to the Anglo-Saxons, but was the practice of most northern nations, 
especially of the Franks and Normans, and was indeed introduced 
by William the Conquerour, not found here as an ancient usage, 
much less abolished by him. He made no one order to cancel or 
to restrain it, but made an express law to license and authorize it. 
Before the Conquest not one law or one example of this practise, 
but after the Conquest some publick laws, and very many prece- 
dents Hoc genus (i. e. duelli) a Normannis {cum Anglis Mis an- 
tiquioribus antea ig?totum erat) invectum est. Antiq. b'ritam p. 103. 
Dueilum, singular e certamen intellige, quod genus examinis, cum in 
Anglo Saxonum monumentis, quod sciam, no n occur rat, Normannis 
eorum successoribus , ut verisimile est, debemus, a quibus a Norman- 
nia post Conquestum, ut vacant, hue adductum reor. Somneri Gloss. 
in voce Duellium, I wonder Sir W. T. could fail upon such an 
ignorant erronr; but thus it is to write history without stating any 
times i,r producing any authorities. This is to invent not to relate. 
Aias, history is a very sacred subject} and though matters of 
opinion may admit of desultory essays, yet matters of fact must be 
delivered with great integrity and judgement. This camp-fight 
or duelling was of two sorts, either by court military in cases of 
felony or treason ; or by court civil for the trial of estates : both 
these are antiquated, but never really abrogated. Of the latter 
sort there was a solemn allowance, an. 1571, 13 Eliz., in the case 
of Simon Low and John Kime plaintiffs, and Thomas Paramore 



GLOSSARY, 2/ 

defendant, for the mannor and lands in the Isle of Hartie, near 
Shepey in Kent. Of the former kind the last example was in 
6 Car. I. between Donald lord Rey appellant, and David Ramsey, 
esq. defendant. But in both these instances, after a great many 
formalities, the matter was referred witout proceeding to actual 
fight. In the ninth of King Steph. Brien Fitz Count lord of Wa- 
lingford, sent a challenge to Henry bishop of Winchester, wrote 
in red letters, and concluding thus, — Ea quce in hoc scripto assero 
contra Henricum nepotem regis Henrici episcopum IVintonice prce- 
sto sum probare vel hello veljudicio per unum clericumvel per unum 
laicum, K. p. 101. 

Benevolentiam Regis habere. To purchase the king's pardon 
and favour, and be restored to honour and estate. — Thomas de S. 
Walerico dat regi mille marcas pro habenda benevolentia regis, et 
pro habendis terris suis unde disseisitusfuit, K. p. 172. 

Beonn. A Saxon epithet of dignity and eminence. Bernwode, 
com. Buck, seems to have been so called as a forest of the greatest 
remark, K. p. 28. 

Bepn. A Barn, granary, or grange. The learned Fr. Junius 
judges it to be compounded of Hej\e, barley ; and Epn or Eapn, a 
place or repository : and asserts it to be so wrot, where it fre- 
quently occurs, in the Saxon Gosples, Bepepn, and sometimes se- 
parately Bep.e-epn, which Spelman writes Bepeun. So Bepe-pic, 
a grange or the tillage of corn ; Bepe-gapol, a tax on corn ; Bejie- 
ton, a name given to those villages where the religious had a com- 
mon granary. But it is a fond conjecture of Dr. Skinner that Bur- 
cester, com. Oxon. was Hepn-ceartep, or Barn-cestre. When, 
though I inclined to believe, it bore some relation to the first 
bishop of Dorchester, and might be possibly Birini-CaUrum. Yet 
I rather think it was originally Buri-Castrum, or Castrum ad Bu- 
rum, from the Bury or rivulet on which it stands, and which still 
retains the name of the Bury, though commonly the Rea ; especi- 
ally because the east-end of the town, now called Market-end, 
before the grant of a new market by Hen. VI. was always called 
Bury -end. 

Bercaria, Berqueria, Berkeria, A sheep-fold, sheep-cote, 
sheep-pen, or other inclosure for the safe keeping a flock of sheep. 
Abbreviated from Berbicaria, from Berbex, detorted from Vervex. 
Hence Lat. Berbicus a ram, Berbica an ewe, caro Berbecina mut- 
ton. Berbicarius, Bercarius, Fr. Berger, a shepard. — James le 
Bret of Bigenhull gave four short ridges or butts of land to the 
priory of Burcester, — adfaciendam berkeriam sive quicquid eis me- 
lius placuerit. K. p. I87. John de Charlton and Christian his 
wife gave to the abby of Oseney a piece of land in Hokenorton, 



28 GLOSSARY. 

upon which stood the Berchery of Sutton, K. p. 348. Summa 
redituum porcoriaritm et bercariarum si fuerint ad Jirmam vs. vie?. 
K. p. 354. Et in Johanne Leseby faciente sepes apud bercariam 
de IVrechwyhe et Crokewell, xxix.den, K. p. 577. Quidam berca- 
rius de Ambresdon tenet terras in JVrechwyke, K, p. 470. Hence 
the word Bercen or Barken, which is now commonly used for a 
yard or Back-side in Wilts, and other counties. But it first signi- 
fied the small croft or close where the sheep were brought up at 
night, and secured from danger of the open fields. 

Beria, Berie. Most of our glossographers in the name of places 
have confounded the termination of Berie with that of Bury and 
Borough, as if the appellative of ancient towns. Whereas the 
true sense of the word Beria, Eng. Berie, is a flat wide campagne, 
as from sufficient authorities is proved by the learned Du Fresne 
in his Glossary, voce Beria, and in his Notes on the Life of St. 
Lewis, p. 89, where he observes that Beria S.Edrnundi, mentioned 
by Mat. Paris, sub an. 1 174, is not to be taken for the town but 
for the adjoining plain. To these and other his remarks on that 
word, may be added, that many flat and wide meads and other 
open grounds, are still called by the name of Berie and Berie. field. 
So the spacious mead between CKford and Irley was in the reign 
ofKing Athelstan called Bery. B. Twine MS. c. 2. p. 253. Such 
were the Berie-meadows, which though Sir Henry Spelman inter- 
prets to be the Demesne meadows or Mannor- meadows, yet were 
truly any open flat meadows that lay adjoining to any vill or firm. 
The same with Berras in that plea between the bishop and prior of 
Carlisle, 18 Edw. I. — Et quod rex in foresta sua prcedicta (scil. de 
Inglewood) potest villas cedijicare, ecclesias construere, Berras as- 
sartare, et ecclesias illas cum decimis t err arum illarum pro volun- 
tate sua cuicunque voluerit conferre. Where berras assartare, must 
be to assart or plough up the plain, open heaths, or downs. Hence 
our warrens were called cony-Berries. A flat threshing floor is 
in the north called a Berry-sted and Berry ing-stedj Berrier a 
thresher. As Bersted in Kent was Beri-sted or an open flat place. 
Hence the termination of many places that are so situate, as Mix- 
Berie, Acorn Berie, now Corn Berie, &c. 

Bezantine, Bizantin. A piece of mony coined by the western 
emperours at Byzantium or Constantinople, of two sorts, Bisantius 
aureus et albus, gold and silver, both which past in England. The 
monks of Oseney, in consideration of the mannor of Hampton, 
gave ten marks of silver to Robert de Gait, and one Bezantine to 
his wife, K. p. Q7. The silver Besantine was the value of two 
shillings, K. p. 109. Chaucer represents the gold Besantine or 
Eesaunt* to have been a ducket in weight. 



GLOSSARY. 29 

Bidentes. Two-yerlings : tags or sheep of the second year. — 
William Longspe granted to the prior and canons of Burcester, — 
pasturam ad quinquaginla bidentes cum dominicis bidentibus meis 
ibidem pascendis, K. p. 21 6. The wool of these sheep being the 
first sheering, was sometime claimed as a heriot to the king on the 
death of an abbat. Fid. Heriot. 

Biga, Bigata. A cart with two wheels, drawn often with one 

horse, King Hen. I [I. confirmed to the priory of Repingdon, — - 

com. Derb. — unam bigam cum unico equo semel in die in bosco suo 

de Tikenhale errantem ad focale ad usus sues proprios portandum. 

Mon. Ang. torn. 2, p. 280. So King John to the abby of Noteley, 

com. Buck. Concessimus eisdem canonicis duas bigas singulis an- '**<* *+t, 

nis euntes et rcdeuntes pro bosco ad focum eorum, K. p. 100. The 

prior and canons of Burcester allotted to the vicar of that church, 

duas bigatas bonijbeni — et quatuor bigatas lignorum pro focalibus 

de silva prioris vocata Priorswood, K. p. 670. The two paps or 

teats of a female are called in Esse* the Bigges. A cap with two 

long ears worn by young children and girls is now called a 

Biggin. 

Bladum. Commonly taken for all sorts of standing corn in 
the Blade and ear, — Quilibet eorum (i. e. tenendum de Hedingdon) 
animalia habens metet in autumpno unam acram bladi de blado do. 
nihil ibidem, K. p. 320. In autumpno metent blada domini, ib. 
But in our old charters the word Bladum did include the general 
product of the ground, fruit, corn, flax, grass, &c. and whatever 
was opposed to living creatures. So when Joan de Pidington gave 
or confirmed the hermitage of Musewell to the abby of Missenden, 
she granted all the tithe of her demesne lands in Pidington, — de 
blado et de omnibus fructibus terrce, et de ovibus et porcis, K. p. 76. 
— Decimam de dominio suo tarn in blado quam in agris et porcellis^ 
K. p. 77. Hence Germ. Blait, Island, and Dutch Blad, Eng^ 
Blade of corn or grass, Blade of a knife, shoulder-Blade, and by 
farther metaphor a fine Blade or brisk young fellow. The word 
was sometime applied to all sort of grain or thresh t corn, — Tr'ia 
quarteria frumenti, tria quarteria avenarum, et unum quarterium 
fabarum, — erunt quieti de solutione prcedicti bladi in perpetuum, 
K. p. 291. Sometime appropriated to bread corn, or wheat, in 
Fr. Ble. So the Knights Templars granted to Sir Wido de Meriton's 
wife, — duas summas bladi, K. p. 120. 

Blodeus. From Sax. Blob, Island. Bloob. Of a deep red 
colour, or what we call as red as blood. The old phrase of Blae 
and Bludie, what we now call Black and Blew. Siquis verberan- 
do aliquem fecerit blae et bludie, ipse qui fuerit blae et bludie prius 



30 GLOSSARY* 

debet exaudiri. Leg. Burg. Scot. cap. 87. Hence Bloat coloured 
and Bloated, i. e sanguine and high coloured : which in Kent we 
call a Blousing colour, and a great Blouse is there a red-faced 
wench. Hence to Blush or turn red in the face) to Blote her- 
rings, or by smoak to make red herrings; a Blot or Blotch and 
Blur, a spot of deep tincture. The prior of Burcester gave his 
liveries of this colour, — Et in blodeo panno em p to pro armigeris et 
v alec tis prior is de Marine Bandy e de magna Tue, K. p. 5J0. 

Blodewite. From Sav. Blob blood, and pite a fine or penalty. 
It was a custumary amercement paid as a composition for the 
shedding or drawing blood. And sometime a privilege or ex- 
emption from this penalty was granted by the king as a special 
favour. So King Henry II. granted to all tenants within the 
honour of Walingford, — ut c/uieti sint de hidagio et blodewite et 
bredewite, K. p. 114. Hence we say a bloody fine, a Bloody sum 
of mony. 

Bodu, Bodun, Bod. Brit. Deep. Hence the Dobuni dqfn were 
called Boduni, Bodumii, from the deep fat soil where they inhabited 
in Glocestershire and Oxfordshire. And thence probably Bodicote 
or Boducoi, com. Oxon. Hence the Lat. Bodia } Bodium, the fiat 
or level ground : and sometimes for a low cottage. Hence our 
Eng. Body, which in some parts of Lincolnshire they use only for 
the belly or lower part. Hence the Bottom of any thing opposed 
to the top. Bodmin or the deep bank in Cornwall. And Pliny 
mentions the old Gall. Bodincus for Bodennag or Bottomless. 

Bonchys. Bunches. Fr. Junius derives it from the Dan. 
Buncker, the tops of hills. But I rather believe it from the old 
Lat. Bonna, Bunna, a rising bank for the term or bound of fields; 
whence Bonnarium a fence, or hedge, or wall, and Bonnagium 
mony or service paid for the maintaining of mounds or boundaries 
of ground. Hence the word Bown is used in Norfolk for swelling 
or rising up in a bunch or tumour. A Bun is a copped cake. The 
Bun or upper part of a barrel, the Bun-hole or Bung-hole. A 
Bunting or round bid. A Bonnet, a little cap or hat, or other 
covering for the head. — Et in duobus bonchis allei vi. den. 
K. p. 575. 

Bondagium. Villenage, servitude, bondage. From Sax. 
Ponb, Bonds or fetters. Hence Prov. I will be your Bond-slave. 
Fid. Abundare. — Films Roberti Elyot nuper defuncti nativi do- 
mince qui tenuit in bondagio duo messuagia, K. p. 399. — Robertus 
fUius Nicholai Germeyn tenet unum messungium et dimidiam vir- 
gutam terrce in bondagio ad voluntatem domuicv, K. p. 401. Te- 
nants in bondage paid heriots and did fealty, K. p. 45(3. were 



GLOSSARY. 31 

not to fell trees in their own gardens without license of the lord, 
ib. Widow of a tenant in bondage held her husband's estate, 
quamdiu vixerit sine marito, K.p.458. Fide Villenagium. 

Bordarii, Some derive it from the old Gall. Bords, the limits 
or extreme parts of any extent. As the Borders of a country, and 
the Borderers or inhabitants in those parts. Whence the Bordure 
of a garment, and to im Border, which we corrupt to imbroider. 
But our old Bordarii, Bord men, were rather so called from Sax. 
Bojib, a house and sometimes a table. Hence our English Boar- 
ders, who board or lodge and table at such a house or such a 
Boarding-school. A cup-Board, a side-Board-table : and Board- 
ing was an old word for facetious table talk. The Bordarii often 
mentioned in the Doomsday Inquisition were distinct from the 
Servi and Villani, and seem to be those of a less servile condition, 
who had a bojib or cottage with a small parcel of land allowed to 
them, on condition they should supply the lord with poultry and 
eggs, and other small provisions for his board and entertainment. 
Hence Bordlode was the firm or quantify of food which they paid 
by this tenure. Bordlandsweve the small estates that were so held. 
As in latter times Bordage and Board- half- penny were the dues 
paid in fairs and markets for boards or tables, booths and standings;. 
The old Scots had the term of Burd and Meet-Burd for provisions : 
Burden-sack for a sack full of provision. From whence most pro- 
bably comes our Eng. Burden, at first only a load of meat and 
drink, which we seem still to retain in the Prov. He has got his 
burden, i. e. He has got as much drink as he can beare or carry. — 
Robertus de Oilgy tenet Berncestre, sunt ibi — 5. servi, et 28. villa- 
ni, cum 14. bordariis, K. p. 65. 

Bordel. Lat. Bordellum. A Sax. Bopb a house. At first it 
signified any small cottage, which growing infamous for a licen- 
tious ale-house, and the common habitation of prostitutes, a 
Bordel, or by metathesis a Brothel and Brothel-hou^e, was a lewd 
publick house, a stews, from which femme bordelier a common 
whore. Hence in Chaucer a Bore! man a loose idle fellow, and 
Borel folk drunkards and epicures, (which the Scotch now call 
Bureil folk). Goddes hous is made a tavern of gluttons, and a 
Bordel of iychours. K. p. 6 1 3. 

Bothagium. Bootbage or custumary dues to the lord of the 
market for the pitching and standing of Booths : of which Dr. 
Skinner (as in most other words) gives this very ill account. 
Minsevus dejiectit ab AS Bobe tentorium tumultuarium, quod 
nusquam lego. Potius a C. Br. Broth, tugurium, derivarem, nisi 
quod suspicor hoc sit nostrce originis. Mallem igitur deducere a 
Belg. Boade, Bode, domuncida, casa, vel Dan. Bood, taberna; 



32 GLOSSARY. 

illudfortassea Belg. Bouwen cedificare, hoc ab AS. Biban manere 9 
Bigan habitare. I raiher think our Eng. Booth came from the old 
Lat Bota. Bttta, Bulla, a vessel for any liquid, from the old Gall. 
Bouts, which the learned Da Fresne says were leather jacks or 
vessels to carry wine cross the mountains, whence Butta and Buttis 
signified any larger continent of wine, as our Butt of wine, and the 
Butellus or Botellus was a less vessel, as our Bottle of which the 
most ancient was the leather- Bottle. Hence the cellar or place 
where they set their wine was called Buthe and Botha whence 
our Buttery, and Botharius was the Buttler who had custody of 
the wine. Bothagium was the tax or duty laid on wine. From 
airwhich it is easie to imagine that the pubiick place in a market 
or fair where they exposed their wine to sale was called a Booth, 
and the custom paid for such liberty of standing and selling was 
Bothagium, Boothage. -19 Hen VI Rex concessit Roberto Broke 
— picagium, stallagium, bothagium., et tollagium una cum assisa 
pants et cervisice de novo mercato infra viltam de Burcester s 
K. p. 680. From the same old Galiick Bouts, leaiher continents 
of wine, came our Eng. Boots, of the same substance and some 
similitude. So as there was more wit than is commonly appre- 
hended in the repartee of Erasmus to Sir T. More, Bibitur ex ocreis. 
This makes me think of a country proverb, Such a man has got 
in his Boots, i. e. He is very drunk, or has been at a drinking- 
Bout. 

Bouch of Court. From the Fr. Bouch a mouth, or rather 
from the Fr. Boughs, Lat. Bulga, Eng. Budget, of British original, 
for the present Welsh use Bolgan, and the Irish Bolg for a belly, 
and by metaphor for a pair of bellows. Hence a big fat belly is 
called a Bulge-belly, and Bulging-belly, and any thing prominent 
is said to Bulge out : from whence Bulke or bigness, a Bully- 
fellow, Bully-rock, a Budge-fellow. Bouch of Court (or as it 
commonly occurs) Bowge of Court, which was an allowance of 
diet or belly provision from the king or superiour lord to their 
knights, esquires, and. other retinue that attended them in any mi- 
litary expedition. Thomas earl of Lancaster retained Sir John de 
Ewre to serve him with ten men at arms in time of war, allowing 
them Bowge of court, with livery of hay and oats for their horses, 
K. p. 378. 

Boveria. A Cow-house. — Idem Johannes tenet unam placeam 
terrce ex iransverso curtilagii sui ad capud boverice domince prio- 
rissce, K. p. 3g5.— Computat de quatuor solidis provenientibus de 
stauro boverice, K. p. 5/1. 

'Botellus. A young steer or bullock castrated. — Units bovei- 
tus ?nas. quatuor boviculcefcemince, K. p. 287. 



GLOSSARY. 33 

BovrcuLA* An heifer or young cow, which in the east riding 
of Yorkshire they call a Wbee or Whey, and a spoiled heifer is 
called in Oxfordshire a Martin. — Possunt sustentari sexdecim vac- 
cce et unus taurus cum boviculis, K. p 495. 

Brasium prceparare. To make Mault (Island. Malt), which 
was a service paid by some tenants to their lord, — In manerio de 
Pidington quilibet virgatarius prceparabit domino unum quarte- 
rium brasii per annum, si dominus viveniet boscum ad siccandum, 
K. p. 496. 

Breve perquirere. To purchase a writ or license of trial in the 
king's court : whence ihe present usage of paying 6s. 8d. where 
the debt is 40/., 10s. where the debt is 100/. and so upward in 
suits of mony due upon bond, K. p. 168. 

Breve de Recto. A writ of right, by which a person ejected 
sues for the possession and fee simple of an estate detained from 
him. So the abbat of Egnesham impleaded Bernard de S. Wa- 
lery for the mannor of Erdinton, — Per breve de recto in curia Ro- 
berti episcopi Lincobiice, K. p. 133. Roger D'Amory quit claimed 
to the abby of Oseney two knight's fees in Weston, — Unde eosim- 
placitavit in curia domini regis per breve de recto, K. p. 25J, Any 
writ or precept from the king was cailed Breve, which we still re- 
tain in the name of Brief, commonly used for the king's letters 
patent to authorize the collecting of charity for poor sufferers. 
And the minutes of a cause given for the direction of a pleader is 
called a Brief or Breviat. 

Bredewite. From Sax. Bpeob bread, and pite a fine or pe- 
nalty. So as Bredewite were the amercements arising from any 
default in the assise of bread. To b^ exempt from this penalty 
was a special priviledge granted to all the tenants of the honour of 
Walingford by King Henry II.— Ut quieti sint de hidagio et 
Blodeivite et Bredewite, K. p. 114. 

Briga. A quarrel, suit, or controversie. From Goth. 
1SKJKA^> German. Brechen, Sax. Bnecan and Bjnttan, to 
break or divide. Thence our Breach and Brangle, or quarrel. A 
Brack or hole. A heart-Breaking or dividing. A Brace or divi- 
sion into two parts. A Bracket or small piece of board to support 
a shelf A Break in Norfolk is land ploughed or broke up the first 
year after it has lain fallow in the sheep walks. To Britten beef 
in the North is to break the bones of it : thence Brittle, which in 
Cheshire they call Brichoe, whence our Bricks in building seem so 
called from their frangible quality. A Brake is an instrument 
with which they break flax or hemp. Brake and Braken, fern. 
The Breech or divided part of the body, (the same reason gives 

d 



34 GLOSSARY. 

name to the Twist) covered with Breeches. The Brink or edge 
of a hill, &c. where the ground breaks off. A Brisket of beef, or 
piece cut off the breast. Hence the old Lat. Bricia panis, a piece 
of bread. Bruscia, bruscus, brush or brittle wood. Brisin in the 
present Irish is to break. — Pro dicta briga sive discordia inter eos- 
dem sedanda, K p. 410. 

Bruejria. Briars, thorns, heath, a Sax. Bpaejv — Tantum de 
roboribus el hrueriis quantum pro vestura indiguerit, K. p. 620. 
Lat. Brolium, Broilum, Briulum, Brullium, a hunting chace or 
forest. Bruillus, Brogillus, a wood or grove. Fr. Breil, BreuV, 
Bremlle, a wood or thicket in a forest. Hence the abby of 
Bruerin the forest of Which wood, and Bruel, Brehul, or Brill, in 
the forest of Bernwode, K. p. 41. 

Bulter-Cloth. A linen or hair cloth for sifting or siercing of 
meal or flower. From German Beutel a sive, Beutelen to Bolt or 
sift. The versatile engine for sifting with more ease and expedi- 
tion, is now called a Bolting-mill, and the cloath round it the 
Bolter, — In emendatione unius cribri pistrince hoc anno \,den. ob. el 
in Bulter-cloth empto ad pistrinam, x.den. K. p. 574. Hence 
the old Gall Beluter, Bluter } to sift, which Menagins fancies to 
bear affinity to the Lat. volutare. The modern Fr. Blutter. Hence 
the Lat. Bolendigarius , Bolengarius, Fl. Boulen, Fr. Boulenger, a 
baker or bread maker. On which word the learned Du Fresne 
has a trifling conjecture, much below his gravity and judgement, 
— Videntur pistores ita appeltati, quod panes informant globorum, 
quos Boules dicimus, confidant. When they were evidently so 
called from Bolting or sifting their flower. From hence by me- 
taphor to Bolt out, or rush upon, as He Bolted out upon me. To 
Bowlt a cony, to start or put her up. Bolting or jutting out, as 
a piece of timber that overlays upon a beam, has the end Bolting 
out : and any such prominence in architecture was called a Boltel, 
The Bolt of a door that runs into the staple. The Boltspirit of a 
ship, i. e. the spiret or mast that Bolts out. Pease-Bolt in Essex 
is the pease-straw, when the grain is thresht or sifted out. In the 
same county Bullimong is several grains mixt or sifted together. 
Hence possibly the old word, a Bolt of silk or stuff, a long narrow 
piece, — Et in Bolt rubei say apud Stere&brugge propter anabatam 
faciendam, iv.sol. v'w.den. K. p. 574. 

Bund a. A Bound. Includendo for estam ex parte dextra per 

oinnes bundas et metas subscriptas, K. p. 323. Vid. Abundare. 

Burgagium. A sort of quit rent paid to the chief lord for the 

houses and tenements in a town or borough, — Summa reddituum 

assisorum de burgagio in Thame, lxxvs. K. p. 354. As Burgbote 



GLOSSARY. 35 

was the tax for repairing the common buildings of the town. 
Burgbrech was a fine imposed for the breach of peace within the 
town, &c. 

Burs aria. The Bursery or place of receiving and paying 
mony and rents by the Bursaiii, Bursers or officers of accompt 
in religious houses, — Computaverunt fratres Radulphus de M eriton 
et Stephanus de Oxon de bursaria domus Berncestre coram audito- 
rilus, K. p. 288. The conventual Bursar was to deliver up his 
accompts yearly on the day after Michaelmass, K. p. 570. From 
Bursa, which gives name to our English Burse, and hence the same 
officer who is called Boursar in a college, is in a ship called the 
Purser. A Pursy man is one who breathes with difficulty, because 
his breast and belly are fat and extended like a Purse. To dis- 
Burs or expend, disBursements or expences. Formerly all exhi- 
bitioners or stipendiary scholars at Paris were called Bursars, as 
they lived on the burs or fund, or endowment of founders and be- 
nefactors, — In ea uniuersitate (scil. Oxonia) sunt clara collegia a 
regibus, reginis, epUcopis, et principibus fundata, et ex stipendiis 
eorum scholastici plurimi aluntur, quos Parisii bursarios vocamus, 
Jo. Maj. Gest. Scot. 1. 1. cap. 5. Which Bursarii were most pro- 
perly those novices or young scholars who were sent to the univer- 
sity and maintained by the religious out of their publick burs or 
stock. Nomasticon Cistertiense, K. p. 645. 

Busche, Buscagium, Boscagium. Brush-wood, fire- wood, 
under- wood, — Salva libertate pannagii porcorum et busche in 
charta Matthcei decani contenta, K. p. 240. From the German 
Busche, wood. Whence the device that is wore by women to 
keep in their beily is called a Busk, because made of wood, though 
now generally of whale-bone. Hence apparently our Eng. Bush 
and Bushes in a wood or hedge : and the coronated frame of wood 
hung out as a sign at taverns, is called a Bush. 

bussELLus. A bushel, from Buza, Butta, Buttis, a standing 
measure of wine. Butticella, Bussellus, a less measure : from the 
old Fr. Bouts , which were properly leather vessels to carry wine, 
whence our leather Boots and leather Buskins, and leather 
Boudget. Bussellus was therefore first used for a liquid measure 
of wine, eight gallons, — Octo librce faciunt galonem vini, et octo 
galones vini faciunt bussellum London quae est octava pars quartern. 
Composit. Mensuarum, an. 51 . Hen. III. apud Spelmannum in voce 
Galo. The word was soon after transferred to the dry measure of 
corn, of the same quantity, — Pondus octo librarum frumenti facit 
bussellum de quibus octo consistit quarterium, Fleta 1. 2. cap 12. § 1. 
— Qucelibtt acra potcrit seminar i tempore suo duobus busseUis fru- 
menti, K. p. 495. 

d2 



36 GLOSSARY. 

Buttes. The ends or short pieces of land in arable ridges and 
furrows. Gilbert Basset gave to his priory of Burcester, viginti 
acras in Heile -furlong et buttes apucl Ymbelowesmere, K. p. 136, — 
quatuor seliones terrce qui vocantur Buttes, K. p. 187. — Johannes 
Abbod et Juliana uxor — tenent quatuor butta quce continent unam 
acram, K. p. 402. Fid, Abuttare. 

Byrdlyme. From Bird and Lime, Island, Lym, Dan. Lira, 
glew or any viscous mattei, — Et in i. libra de Byrdlyme empta 
ibidem iii. den. K. p. 574. 

C, 

Cade of herrings, — Et in uno cade rubei allecis empto de Har- 
mando Banbury, viii. sol. K. p. 575. The quantity is thus deter- 
mined in the accounts of the celeress of the abby of Berking, 
" Memorandum that a barrel of herryng shold contene a thousand 
herryngs, and a Cade of herryng six hundreth, six score to the 
hundreth," Mori. Ang. torn. 1. p. 83. In Kent a Cade of beef is 
any parcel or quantity of pieces under a whole quarter. Hence in 
the North to Cadge is to carry, and a Cadger is a butcher, miller, 
or carrier of any other load : and Cadge-belly or Kedge-belly is a 
full fat belly. 

Calcea, Calceia, Calcetum. A high-way maintained and re- 
paired with stones and rubbish : from the Lat. Calx, chalk, Fr. 
Chaux, whence Chaussee, Eng. a Cawse-way, or way raised with 
mocld and paved with chalk, stones, or gravel. Cakagium was 
the tax or contribution paid by the neighbouring inhabitants toward 
the making and repairing such common roads. And Calcearum 
operationes were the work and labour done by the servile tenants, 
from which duty the tenants within the honour of Walingford were 
exempted by King Hen. II. — Ut quieti sint de operationibus castel- 
lorum — et calcearum, K. p. 114. 

Calciatura Rotarum. The shoeing of wheels or straking of 
them, or nailing iron strakes round the fellows, by which the 
wheels are shod and made fit to travel, — Pro uno pari rotarum — 
et pro calciatura earundem per Laurentium Smyth, K. p. 550. 
Hence no doubt comes the Calking or Cauking of horse-shoes, i. e. 
to turn up the two corners, that a horse may stand the faster upon 
ice or smooth stones. And the Cauking of a ship or vessel, to 
make her ride or sail the more safely. 

Calumpnia. Claim or challenge, Ut hcec eleemosina rata sit 
et absque calumpnia in posterum, K. p. 77. — Ita quod neque ego 
usque hceredes mei regressum habeamus vel calumpniam aliquam 
versus aliquos de prcefato manerio, K. p. 127. 



GLOSSARY. 37 

Camera. From the old German Cam, Cammer, crooked; 
whence our Eng. Kembo, arms in Kembo, a Comb in the North 
Camb, the present Irish use Coma for a bed. Camera signified at 
first any winding or crooked plat of ground, — Tres cameras ad 
vinea — unam cameram terras, l5c. apud l)u Fresne in voce. The 
word was afterward applied to any vaulted or arched building, es- 
pecially to a shop for the sale of goods 3 and seemed at last appro- 
priated to an upper room, or what we now only call a Chamber. 
— Robert Clerk granted to Robert le Taillur, Quondam cameram 
cum pertinenliis — dictum cameram cum placia terrce, K. p. 258. 

Canon. Not the Mass-book, as mistaken, K. p. 307, DUt a 
Book wherein the religious of every convent had a fair transcript 
of the rules of their order, frequently read among them, as their 
local statutes : which book was therefore called Regula and Canon. 
The publick books of the religious were these four: 1. Missale, 
which contained all the offices of devotion. 2. Martirologium, a 
register of the Christian saints and martyrs, with the place and time 
of passion. 3 Canon or Regula, the institution and rules of their 
order. 4. Necrologium or Obituarium, in which they entred the 
death of their founders and benefactors, to observe the days of com- 
memoration for them. But as the two first, so likewise the two 
latter were sometime joined in the same volume. 

Cantaria. A chantry, a small chappel single, or annext to 
some parochial church, founded and endowed for the maintenance 
of one or more chantors or chantry-priests, whose office it was to 
sing masses, and perform other memorials for the soul of the 
founder, or such other friends whom he had nominated, — Domi- 
nus IValterius Blankett <apellanus perpetuus Cantarice Sanctce Tri- 
nitatis in eccle.sia omnium sanctorum Oxonice, K. p . F >fJ0. Jn which 
the capellane or chantor was instituted and inducted, and took an 
oath to observe the statutes of the founder, K. p. 567. Several of 
these Chanteries were annext to cathedral churches, and no less 
than fourty-seven to that of St. Paul's in London. Those that es- 
caped the act of 37 Hen. VIII. were all dissolved 1 Edw. VI. 
cap. 14. 

Cantredum. A Cantre or Cantred. From Brit. Cant, a 
Hundred, and Tre or Tred, a Village. The same division of 
counties in Ireland and Wales as our hundreds in England. Hun- 
dredus Latine dicitur, Wallice et Hibernice cantredus, el continet 
centum villas, Jo. Brompton inter X Script, col. g57- — Cas- 
trum et cantredum de bualt cum pertinenliis Wallia, K. p. 427, 
Hence the Cantons of Switzerland. To Canton out, i. e. to divide 
into parcels. A Canton or corner in heraldry. To sell by Cantell 
was an old custom of selling by the lump without tale or measure^ 



38 GLOSSARY. 

which Cantellum Sir Henry Spelman thinks to be velut quantiU 
lum ; but it seems more probable from Cant, a hundred, or Cant- 
oning, dividing into hundreds, and was the selling about a hun- 
dred weight of goods, or a hundred in tale by guess, as we now 
call the taking of a hundred pound by content, when we take one 
hundred pound bag sealed up, without telling the mony. Hence 
a Cantel is still retained for any indefinite number or dimension, 
as in Kent we say a Cantell of people or cattle: a Cantel of wood, 
timber, bread, cheese, &c, 

Canvoys. Canvas. Coarse hempen cloath, a Lat Cannalus, 
a Gr. Ka'yya?^, hemp. Whence a Canopy or Cannoby, an urn- 
brello, made usually of such linen, — El in canvoys ewpto Londin. 
per Richardum Dymby pro imtheamimbus faciendis , in sol. K. p. 574. 
Hence by metaphor (as Skinner fancies) to Canvass about, and 
to Canvass for votes, as bearing allusion to the beating of hemp or 
making canvass. Though perhaps it might be as wise a conjec- 
ture to say that Canna was a cup or can, whence Canava or Can- 
fiaua was the buttery, especially in religious houses, and Cannava- 
sare was to promote drinking, which I am sure is the present me- 
thod of Canvasing in elections. 

Capella. A chappel, or what we rjtow call a chappel of ea e, 
tuilt within the precincts of a parish for the benefit of one of 
more families who lived remote from the parish-church, and made 
subservient to the said mother church- Such a chappel was often 
granted in the court or nannor house of the patron, as a privilege 
to himself and family. So Robert de Grosthead bishop off Lincoln 
to William de Clinton patron of the church of Eston, com. Buck. 
K. p. 221. The same prelate to Roger de Hida ar his mannor- 
house at Whitchurch, com. Oxon. K. p. 233. At the consecration 
of a chappel there was often some fixt endowment given to it, for 
its more light and easie dependance on the mother-church. So 
at Stratton Audley within the parish of i'urcester, Gilbert Basset 
gave to his new priory, — Cape/lam de St*attun et in eadem villa 
de Straitun imam virgatam tcrrce collectam de terra rust i cor um, 
(juce datafuit in dote prcedictcn cape/Ice, K. p 13(j. The institu- 
tion and dependance of chappels and their capellanes, with the 
dignity and liberties of mother-churches discoursed at large, 
K. p. 585. 

Capella nus liber ce Capellco. The chaplain to a chappel of 
ease, maintained by the parish priest, or by the appropriators, or 
by the inhabitants, or by joint contribution of them. His stipend 
was five marks per an. in the year 1280, K. p. 58S. He was 
bound by oath to pay due reverence and obedience to the parish 
priest, K. p. 5.gg. He was sometime called Serviens de Capella^ 



GLOSSARY. 39 

as in a charter of King John, — Dedi et concessi Waltero Borstard 
Seruienti de Capella nostra manerium nostrum de Brehull, 
K. p. 1(54, 

Capellanus Baronis. A lord's or baron's chaplain. Those 
who had a chappel allowed them at their court or mannor-house, 
had the privilege of maintaining a domestic chaplain to officiate in 
the said chappel without prejudice to the parish priest. By the 
council of Claremont, an. I0g5, can. 18, No lay-man was to re- 
tain a chaplain without consent of the bishop. — Warine, chaplain 
to Milo Crispin baron of Walingford, 7 Hen. I. K. p 78. The 
present rights of the nobility for retaining and qualifying of chap- 
lains, are determined by Stat. 21 Hen. VIII. cap. 13. 

Capellanus Sacerdotis. A curate priest or deacon, retained 
by the parish priest to assist him in the offices of his church, and 
the care of souls. — JVillielmus senex sacerdos de Burcester cum 
IVillielmo capellano sua, K. p. 76 — Testibus Rogero decano de 
Pire, Mattheo capellano de Ambrosden.. . Fulcone capellano de 
Meriton, K. p. 121. In large parishes the incumbent was obliged 
to keep two or more capellanes to assist him, K. p. 122. who 
were obliged by an oath of fidelity to their masters the parish 
priests, K. p. 600. Yet no parish priest could take such a curate 
without the license or approbation of the bishop by the synod of 
Poictiers, an. 1280, can. 3. 

Caput Jejunii. Ash-Wednesday, being the head or first day 
of the Quadragesimal or Lent fast, K. p. 132. So Caput anni, 
New-year's-day, upon which was observed the Festum Stultorum, 
to deride the rite of Circumcision, in contempt and hatred of the 
Jews, forbid by an express constitution of Bishop Grosthead, be- 
cause there was a great levity in the observance of it, and because- 
it ridiculed the circumcision to which our Saviour submitted. So 
Caput kalendurum Mail, May-day. 

Caput Baronice. Head of a Barony. It was the capital vil- 
lage of a barony, where the baron had his principal seat and com- 
mon residence. So in the barony of St. Walery, com. Oxon. the 
Caput Baronice was Beckley, where Richard king of the Romans 
and baron of St. Walery, had his court or pallace, K. p. 62. The 
same with Caput Honoris, in the barony of GifFard, com. Buck. — 
Caput iltius honoris Crendon, K. p. 167. This head of a barony 
could not be settled in dowry, nor divided among female co-heirs 
as coparceners, but in default of issue male it passed entire to the 
eldest daughter. 

In Capite tenere. To hold immediately from the king, or of his 
crown in gross, without dependance upon or annexion to any 
honor, castle, or mannor. Called sometimes In Capite Corona, 



40 GLOSSARY. 

Bernard de S. Walery gave the site and advouson of the abby of 
Godestow to King Hen. II. Ita ut prcefata abbatia de ccetero ha-> 
leatur libera, et In Capite coronce regis sit, sicui abbatia sancti Ed' 
mundi, et alice regales abbatice, K. p. 1 27. No tenure In Capite 
could be alienated or transferred without the king's special license, 
but upon any such conveyance it escheated to the king without 
express pardon,— Pardonavimus dilecto et fideli nostro Johanni de 
Handlo transgression em quum fecit adqwrendo sibi, et hceredibus 
suis ballivam forestarice — quce tenentur de nobis in Capite, nostra 
super hcec licentia non obtenta, K. p. 356. 

Capital is Honor. The chief honor or prime barony of the 
whole county, com. Buck — (Villi elmus Mareschallus comes de 
Pembroke habet ibidem capitale m honorem, scil. honorem Gijfardy 
K. p. 167. 

Capitalis Dominus. The lord of the fee from whom the 
estate is held by inferior tenants, — Solvendo tres denarios erga Ca- 
pitalem Dominum, K. p. 220.— Facien do inde servitiurn Capitali 
Domino feodi, K. p. 162. 

Capitalis Curia. The chief mannor-house or place-house, or 
court of the lord of the mannor, which in Kent is now often 
called the Court lodge. Robert earl of Dreux confirmed to the 
abby of Oseney Manerium de Mixbury cum capitali curia, 
K. p. I9I . The same with Capitale messuagium.,— dicunt per sa~ 
cramentum suum quod capitale messuagium valet per an. cum iota 
inclausa, us. K. p. 314. 

Caput Loci. The end of anyplace. A d caput villce, at the 
end of the town, K, p. 394. Ad capud boverice, at the upper 
end of the cow-house, K. p. 395. Alia roda jacet ad inferius 
capud del" Oldedich, K. p. 397. 

Capitalia Agri. Head lands. — Canonici concesserunt hom.ini-> 
bus de Wrechwike duas acras prati pro capitalibus suarum crofta- 
rum secus rivulum versus molendinum Jiuentem ad faciendum stag- 
num, K. p. 13/. Fid. Havedf.lond. 

Capitula Ruralia. Chapters held by the rural dean and clergy 
within the precincts of every distinct deanery, at first every three 
weeks, then once a month, and more solemnly once a quarter, 
K. p. 640. 

Caruca, Fr. Carrue, a plough, from the old Gallic, Carr, which 
is the present Irish word for any sort of wheeled carriage,— Qui 
carucas habuerunt, arabunt terram domini in dicto manerio, 
K. p. 320. From hence the Sax. Ceonl, a plough-man, the 
Northern Karl, our Southern Churl, and in corruption of places 
Char I, as Charlton, Charlbury, &c. Carl in modern Welsh is a 
rustick or clown. 



GLOSSARY. 41 

Carucata. A plough-land, or as much arable ground as in 
one year could be tilled with one plough : which in the reign of 
Rich. I. was computed at sixty acres, Mon. Ang. torn. 2. p. lOfJ. 
Yet another charter, g Rich. I. allots one hundred acres to a caru- 
cate. -And Fleta, temp. Edw. I., says, if land lay in three common 
fields, then nine-score acres to a carucate, sixty for winter tillage, 
sixty for spring tillage, and sixty for fallows. But if the land lay 
in two fields, then eight-score acres to a carucate, one half for 
tillage and the other for fallow, lib. 2. cap. 72. § 4. The measure 
of a carucate was different according to time and place. In 
23 Edw. III. one carucate of land in Burcester contained one 
hundred and twelve acres ; and two carucates in Middleton were 
three hundred acres, K. p. 471. Caruca was sometime used for 
Carucata, Robert de Ver confirmed to the monks of Thorney,-— 
Decimas de quinque carucis quas pater concessit in Islep Draitune 
et Edinton, K, p. 82. In Doomsday inquisition the arable land 
was measured by carucates, the con: mon pasture by hides, and 
the meadow by acres. In some countries the word is still pre- 
served a Carve of land, and the imposition on land carucagium et 
carcagium is called Carvage. 

Carucata Bourn. A team or draught of oxen, which in some 
Western parts is still called a plough of oxen. Gilbert Basset, founder 
of Burcester priory, grants to it — Pasturam in mea dominica pas- 
tura ad tres carucatas bourn traheniium una cum, bobus meis trahen- 
tibus, K. p. 135. Called Boves de Caruca in a charter of Aubrey 
de Vere to the abby of Noteley, K. p. 155. 

Carucatarius. He that held land in soccage or plough tenure, 
— sum.ma reddituum carucatariorum si fuerint ad fir mam, xxiis. — 
Summa gallinarum carucatariorum et cotariorum cxiv. gallince. 
K. p. 354. 

Carecta. A cart or carriage or waggon. From the same Lat. 
Carrum, Brit. Carr, which signified any sort of vehicle by land or 
sea. Thence a Carrac, Lat. Carraca, Carrica, a small ship, the 
cargo of a ship, Lat. Carracagium. A Carrat or Carect, used 
formerly for any v/eight or burden, though now appropriated to 
the weight of four grains in diamonds. — Nitllus vice comes vet bal- 
livus noster vel aliquis alius capiat equos vel carectas alicujus pro 
caragio faciendo, nisi reddat liberaiionem antiquitus statutam scili- 
cet pro carecta ad duos equos x. den, per diem, et pro carecta ad 
iii. equos, xiv.den. per diem. Mag. Char. cap. 22. Gilbert Basset 
gives to the priory of .Burcester, in his foundation charter, — 
Decimam carectam ligni mei, ut sicut venitur de bosco, attrahatur 
in curiam canonicorum sicut in meam, K. p. 135. — Thomas 
de S. Walery gave to the nuns of Stodeley — Qualibet septi- 



42 GLOSSARY. 

mana unam carectam ligni mortui in Iosco de Horton, K. p. 170. 
Homines de Fledingdon foenum curinbuvt usque ad curiam prcedicti 
nanerii, illi videlicet qui carectas habuerunt, et qui carectas nan 
habuerunt venient cum furcis suis ad. dictum foenum levandum et 
tkassandum, K. p. 320. The Brit. Carr was Sax. Cpaet. Thence 
a Cradle or little carriage for children, applied to some other 
utensils that carry or bear any thing. As in the North a dish- 
Cradle, for the setting up wooden dishes or trenchards. And in 
Kent a sithe-Cradle, or rack of wood fastened to a sithe for carry- 
ing the mowed barley clean into the swath. Thence a Cratch or 
Critch, a rack in a stable. And hence Crutches to bear up or 
carry lame persons, In the North, especially at Shefield in York- 
shire, they call a kennel the Carr-sick, from carr and sike, a furrow 
or gutter, q. d. carr- gutter. A Carr is in other places a wheel- 
trade or wheel-rout, or any such hollow trench where water 
stands. Hence to the Cans or Carriers of a spinning-wheel. Nor 
is it impertinent to observe that Carr a gutter is in Lincolnshire a 
Gool, in Kent a Guzzle, in Wiltshire a Gushill and Gooshill, which 
is the reason why the Southern goosberry is called in the Nortn 
a Carrberry. And Carter is the name of a spinning insect like a 
spider. Hence again the Lat. Carpentum, in the present Irish a 
Carbad, or waggon covered with a Carpat or Carpet, as our wag- 
gons now with tilts. A Carpenter, &c. Hence the Charge or 
carriage of a gun. And a Char to be Charr'd in the North, i. e. 
a task or labour to be discharged. 

Cakectata. A cart-load or waggon-load. The prior and 
canons of St. Frideswide gave the vicar of Oakle — duas carectatas 
Jeoni, et duas carectatas straminis, K. p. 455. 

Cakectarius. A carter. Hugo filius Elice carectarii de Be- 
re7icester, K. p. 325 

Cart-Sadel. The saddle that kid on the fillar-horse, — Pro 
uno cartsadel, uno colero, cum uno pari tractuum empds, \\vd. 
K. p. 549. Saddle is from the Sax. Setl, a seat or place. Hence 
the frame of wood to support the barrels in a buttery or cellar, is 
called the Seddle and Settle. So a Settle or couch, a Settle-bed or 
truckle-bed. In Kent to Sessle about is to change seats very often. 

Cart- Body, The wooden body of the cart or waggon. Et 
pro sarratione et delatione unius Cart body xid. K. p 550. In 
Sussex it is called the Buck of a Cart, i. e. the belly of a cart : 
from Sax. Buc, a belly, used by metaphor for a jug or big-bellied 
pot, thence a Bucket or less measure of the like shape. From the 
Teuton. .Bucken, Sax. Bugan^ to bend: whence Bucksome flex- 
ible, or of a pliable body, Bonny and Bucksome lass. Hence to 
Buckle or to bend. A Buckle, a Buckler. To Budge or move 



GLOSSARY. 43 

about, whence Budge and Budgy is the same as Bucksome, brisk 
and jocund. A Buck or belly is in some places called a Budge, 
thence by metaphor a bag or sack, and a Budget or little bag. A 
Budge-barrel, a Budge-bellied or big-bellied fellow, &c. A 
Budger or Badger, i. e. a carrier or retailer of Bodges or bags of 
corn. 

Carraria, Carrarium. Now corrupted into Quadraria and 
Quadrarium, a quarrey or stonepit. The Irish retain the true ori- 
ginal a Carrie, and the French un carriere, — Una acra jacet in 
furlungo prcedicto in quo prior habet quarreram, K. p. 52Q. Cor- 
rupted farther into Quadrarium, — Concessieisdem Uberam viam ultra 
pasturam meam de quadrario suo usque ad prcedictam ripam ad 
stagnum died molendini emendandum , K. p. 208 Hence the old 
word a Querrour or digger of stones. By the like change of c 
into qu, we say a Quarrey or prey, as the Quarry of a hawk, which 
no doubt was Carrey, or the prey carried off. 

Casula quasi Capsula. The Chesible or loose upper vestment 
of the priest officiating in divine service : like our present surplice, 
Pes timen turn principale scilicet casula alia, K. p. 59S0 

Castellorum operatio. Service of work and labour to be done 
by inferiour tenants for the repair and building of castles. Toward 
which some gave their personal assistance, and others a contribu- 
tion. This was one of the three necessary taxes from which few 
persons were exempted, — Libert ab omni servitio, except is ponds 
et arcis construcdone et expedidone contra hosiem. This occurs in 
several of our royal charters. But an immunity from this burden 
was sometimes granted. So King John to the nunnery of St. 
Catharine without the city of Exeter, — quiet as esse de operadoni- 
bus castellorum et pondum. Mon. Ang. torn. 1. p, 503. b. So 
King Hen. II. to the tenants within the honour of Walingford, — 
Ut quieti sint de operadonibus castellorum, K. p. 114. 

Castellorum custodia. The service of keeping and defend- 
ing, or watching and warding in any castle. The barony of 
Coges, com. Oxon. was held per serjantiam custodice castelli de 
Dover, K. p. 324. 

Cellarium. A Cellar. — Istud cellarium et illud solarium quo 
sito sunt intra domum meam, K. p 325. From the Lat. Cella, 
Eng. Cell, or little place or repository. Hence the old Latin Cel- 
dra, a certain measure, which the Scotch call Chalder, and we 
retain in the measure of coals a Chaldron. 

Cess are in soludone. To fail in payment. Quoties prior et 
cpnventus Burncester in preedictnrum sexaginta solidorum soludone 
Urminis prWdktis cessaverint, K. p. 344. 



44 GLOSSARY. 

Chalengia. A claim or challenge, from Fr. Challonger, 
which Menagius derives from the Gr. KaXe7v. — Ita quod ego et 
hceredes mei nullam chaiengiam poterimus habere de futuro, 
K. p. 125. 

Chakta. Not only a charter or deed in writing, but any sig- 
nal or token by which an estate was held, — IVillielmus Jilius Ni- 
gelli tenuit custodiam forestce de Bernwode de domino rege per 
unum cornu quod est charta prcedic tee forestce, K. p. 73. 

Cheminus, Chiminus. A -high way, from the Fr. Chemin, 
or rather from the Sax. Cyman, to come, — Quinquaginta acras 
terrce cum cheminis suis et omnibus aliis pertinentiis, K. p. 428. 
Hence a Chimney or Cheminev, a way or passage for the smoke. 

Chirch-Scot. Cynic-jceat, i. e. church-payment or contri- 
bution. The Latin writers have commonly called it Primitice 
seminum, because it was at first a quantity of corn paid to the priest 
on St. Martin's day, as the first fruits of harvest ; enjoined by the 
laws of King Ina, cap. 4, and King Canute, cap. 10. But it was 
afterward taken for a reserve of corn rent paid to the secular priests 
or to the religious. So in the reign of Hen. III. Robert de Hay 
rector of Sonldern claimed from the abbat and convent of Oseney 
a certain measure of corn under the title of Churchscet for their 
demesne lands in Mixbury, K. p. 187- It was sometimes a 
general word, and included not only corn but poultry or any other 
provision that was paid in kind to the religious. So in the inqui- 
sition of the rents of the abby of Glastonbury, an. 1201. Mane- 
rium Glaston. reddit per an. in gabulo v'n.lib. vi.sol. W.den. — In 
Churchscet Ix. galimas et semen jrumenti ad tres acras. Cartul. de 
Glaston. MS. f 38. 

Chop-Churches. Those secular priests who drove a trade or 
made an advantage by exchanging of their benefices, against whom 
some constitutions were expresly made to restrain that mercenary 
practise, K. p 541. From Sax Ceap, goods or vendible wares, 
thence Ceapan, to buy or to cheapen. Thence a Chapman, a 
Cheap price: this word gave name to several places of market and 
trade, as Cheapside in London, Chepstow in Wales, Cheping- 
Norton in Oxfordshire, &c. Hence likewise to Chaffer or to 
barter, to Chop or to change, Chopping, vendible or valuable, as 
a Choppi tig-horse^ a Chopping-boy : both which have been cor- 
rupted into Swop and Swopping : and in the North into Coup and 
Cowping, which in Norfolk and Suffolk is Cope and Coping. 

Chosa. From the Fr. chose, a thing or small matter. The 
Knights Templars gave to Simon son of Sir Wido de Meriton 
jnarcas centum ad yuasdam chosas emendas, K. p. 120. Fr. quel- 



GLOSSARY. 45 

que choses corrupted into Kickshaws, thence to Choose or take 
one thing out of several others : to Chouse or to take more than 
is just and due, 

CHOREPiscopr. Rural bishops delegated by the prime dioce- 
san, their authority restrained by some councils, and their very- 
office by degrees abolished. After whom the rural cleans were so 
commissioned to exercise episcopal jurisdiction, till inhibited by 
Pope Alexander III. and the council of Tours, K. p. 639. 

Chyrografhum. Anypublick instrument of conveyance attested 
by witnesses was in the Saxon times called Chirographum, which 
the Normans stiled Charta. Of which Ingulph gives this good 
account, — Chyrographorum conjectionem Anglicanam , quce antea 
usque ad Edwardi regis tempora jidelium prcesenlium sulscriptio- 
nibus cum crucibus aureis, aliisque sacris signaculis Jirma fuerunt : 
Normanni condemnantes chirographa, chartas vocabant, et char la- 
rum firmitatem. cum cerea impressione per unius cujusque speciale 
sigiUum sub instillatione trium vel quatuor testium adstantium 
conficere . cons iitueb ant. Histor. Ingulphi, p. 901. But to pre- 
vent frauds and concealments they made their deeds of mutual 
covenant in a script and rescript, or in a part and counter-part, 
upon the same sheet of paper or parchment, and in the middle 
between the two copies they drew the capital letters of the alpha- 
bet, or sometime the word SYNGRAPHUS in the like great 
letters, and then talliated or cut asunder in indented manner the 
said sheet, which being delivered to the two parties concerned, 
were proved authentick by matching with or answering to one 
another. Like the tallies in wood, or like our present indentures 
in writing. When this prudent custom had for sometime pre- 
vailed, then the word Chirographum was appropriated to such bi- 
partite writings,— Et in hujus rei testimonium hnic scripto in modum 
chyrographi confecto vicissim sigilla nostra apposuimus, K. p. 1J/. 
— Ut autem ista conventia rata et inconcussa perpetuo permaneat, 
prcesenlis scriptis serie et ulriusque monasterii sigilli testimonio una 
cum sigillis abbatum diviso inter eos chirographo confirmata est. 
K. p. 223. Such alternate writings were called likewise Scripta 
Chirographata, K. p. 234 : and charta? divisco, Mon. Ang. torn. 2. 

P. 94. 

Christianitatis Curia. The Christian or ecclesiastical court 
opposed to the civil court or lay court, or Curia Domini Regis. 
These courts of Christianity were not only held by the bishops in 
synods, and the archdeacons and chancellors in consistories ; but 
they were also the rural chapters, where the rural dean or dean of 
Christianity presided, and the clergy were assessors and assistants, 
K. p. 641. Justitiam Christianitatis facere was to prosecute and 



46 GLOSSARY* 

censure a criminal In the ecclesiastical court, as 28 Hen. T. Alex* 
under Lincoln, episcopus Guidoni de Charing parochiano suo sulu~ 
tern. Mando tibi et prcecipio ut cito reddas ecclesice de Egnesham 
et Wdltero ahbati ecclesiam suam de Meritona, — quod ni cito fece- 
ris, prcecipio ut Wulterus archidiaconus nobis justitiam Christiani- 
tatisfaciaty donee reddas, K p. 90. — Osbert vicar of Merton im- 
pleaded in the king's court by Thomas le Camvil and Elizabeth 
his wife for proceeding in a cause before the court Christian 
against the king's prohibition, K. p. 28f). So Ichel de Kerwent 
rector of Bucknel to he arrested and impleaded before the barons 
of the exchequer by the king's precept to the sheriff, — quod idem 
Ychelus ipsum abbatem (de Oseney) jam in curiam Christianilatis 
coram officiario diocesani prcedicti trahit in placilum, ipsum multi- 
pliciter ibidem inquietando in nostri contemptum manifestum, 
K. p. 328. 

Clad us, Clades, Clada, Cleta, Clida, Cleia. From the Brit, 
Clie, the present Irish Ciia, a hurdle: whence Dublin was for- 
merly called Baile diet, i. e. the town of hurdles. A hurdle for 
sheep is still in some counties called a Cley. Et in xii. cladis ovi- 
libus emptis de Nicholao Aleyn hoc anno wW'x.den. et in solutis pro 
putatione et factura triginta cladorum ovilium. apud parcum de 
Midlinglon hoc anno xix.dew. K. p. 575. — Et in cladis emptis ad 
pontem de Clyfton de novo faciendum, K. p. 577* A Hurdle is 
from the Sax. fcyjibl, Teuton. Hurde. Whence a basket made 
of twigs interwoven like a hurdle, was in some places called a 
Hurd, thence a Hoard or Store, to Hoard up. A Hurdle is in 
some northern parts called a Fleak, and in Kent is sometime 
called a Riddle, Raddle, or Ruddle : from the rods or twigs of 
which they are made, as a Riddle-wall, a Riddle-basket, &c. 

Clamor. Complaint for want of justice. Alexander bishop 
of Lincoln to Wido de Charing, — Ne pro recti veljustitice penuria 
amplius audiam clamorem, K. p. 90. In the same sense as now 
to Clamour, and to make a Clamour. 

Clamor. A crie by a publick cryer. — Mandatum est majori 
et ballivis Oxon. quod per totamvillam Oxon. clamarifaciant, quod 
omnes publiccv meretrices et concubince clericorum infra octo dies 
post hunc clamorem factum exeunt vil/am Oxon. K. p.217» 

Claudere. To enclose or turn a common into closes and en- 
closures. — Dedi et concessi totum culturam ad claudendam et faci- 
endam quicquid inde dictis canonicis placuerit, K. p. 236. Hence 
a Closet, a Cloister, a Clod, Clotted-blood, a Clout, Clouted- shoes, 
a Clouterly fellow. Hence the Sax. Club, a rock. Clough in the 
North is a vally enclosed between two hills. A Clodge in Kent, 
a lump of clay or dirt. Clodgy and Cledgy stiff and dirty. 



GLOSSARY. 47 

Claustura. Brush wood for hedges and fences. King 
Henry III. gave to the prior and canons of Chetvvode, — quinque 
carucalas clans turce ad prcedictce terrce clausturam sustinendam, 
K. p. 247. This sort of wood is called Teenage, from Sax. Tynan, 
to enclose, thence to Tine the door, i.e. to shut the door; the 
Tines of a harrow, i. e. the teeth of it j the Tines of a buck's- 
horn, &c. 

Clavus. A clove, as clavus gariophili, an aromatick clove, 
clavus allii, a clove of garlick. — Reddendo mihi et hceredibus meis 
unum clavum cariophili tantum, K. p. 294. Hence the Sax. 
Cleopn, to divide or to Cleave, a Cleft, a Clift, a Cleaver, and in 
the opinion of Skinner to Club or divide a reckoning, Club-law, 
i. e. by equal division. 

Cl&pud, Iclepid. Called or named. — An old man that is Cle- 
pud Jon BurForde, p. 412, — that is Iclepid Rich. Davyes londe. 
ib. From the Sax. Cleopan, Clypian, to call or name. Hence too 
to Clip or Clep a word, i. e. to miscall or pronounce it wrong. 
Prov. To Clip the king's English, To Clap or make a noise. The 
Clapper of a mill or of a door, a woman's Clapper, &c. 

Clericus. A secular priest in opposition to a religious or re- 
gular. King John committed to William de Cornhull and Gerard 
de Camvill, — Omnes terras et res abbatum et priorum et omnium 
religiosorum, et etiam clericorum de episcopatu, K. p. 171. The 
benefit of the clergy was an immemorial part of common law, 
confirmed and abridged by several statutes : but perverted from 
the first intention, which was, that the privilege should extend 
only to those in sacred orders, afterwards for the encouragement 
of literature to any ofFendour who could read like a clerk, and 
now at last to the most ignorant wretches, by the favour of the 
judge, and the collusion of the ordinary. The word Clerk was by 
degrees in general attributed to every scholar, and at last was com- 
mon to every scribe and notary, whence so many of our law offices, 
Clerk of the peace, Clerk of the assises, Clerks in the chancery j 
but these latter were commonly in holy orders before the Refor- 
mation. 

Clericus Sacerdotis. A parish-clerk, who was to take an 
oath of fidelity to the parish priest, and was sometimes maintained 
by the appropriators as a menial servant to the vicar. So in all the 
churches appropriated to the abby of Oseney, — Canonici vero cle- 
ricum ei (i.e. vicario) et ecclesice ministerio, et ejus obsequio de- 
votum invenient, qui jur amentum Jidelitatis ipsi vicario prcestabit, — 
Ubi autem non fuerint canonici residentes, clericus, qui ut supra- 
dictum est expensis eorum procurabitur clavem eorum deferet in domo 
eorum, et curam habebit liber am, ut per ipsum vicario svjficienier 



48 GLOSSARY. 

in victuahlus et honoriRce omnia mimslrentur, K.p. 304. The parish 
clerks were formerly to be men of letters, and to teach a school 
in the parish, and were sometimes elected by the parishioners, 
upon whose alms they were supposed to live. So John Peckham 
archbishop of Canterbury, an. 1280, ordained in the church of 
Bauquell and the chappies annex t to it, — Volumus insuper ibidem 
esse duos clericos scholasiicos per parochianorum, de quorum habeant 
vivere eleemosinis, Indus triam eligendos, qui aquam benedictam cir- 
cumferent in parochia et capellis, diebus dominicis et festivis in divi- 
nis ministrantes officiis, et profestis diebus disciplinis, schoiasticis 
indulgentes. Mon. Ang. torn. 3. p. 227. Parish clerks were to be 
school-masters in country villages by the constitutions of Alexander. 
bishop of Coventry, an. 1237, and by the synod of Cologne, 
an. 1280. It would be a good service to the church and naiion to 
restore this ancient practise, especially in remote country villages, 
where the clerk would do more to the service of God and the 
benefit of the people if he were able to instruct the children in 
reading and writing, and rehearsing the Church Catechism, that 
they might be bred to some sense of Christianity and good man- 
ners. 

Cloere. A prison, I believe of some Brit, original, which 
might give name to the old Lat. Cloeria, which Du Fresne con- 
jectures to have been a corruption of clauseria, a Close place of re- 
straint. The dungeon or inner prison in Walingford castle was 
caJled Cloere-Brien, K. p. Q/. Hence the Lat. Cloaca, which was 
originally a dungeon, or the nastiest part of a prison, called by the 
French Basse-fosse, and afterward by an easie allusion applied to a 
jakes or house of office. The old Cloacerius is interpreted in a 
MS. Gloss. Carceris custos. The present cloacarius or keeper of 
the house of ease, is an office in some religious houses imposed on 
an offending brother, or voluntarily chose by him for an exercise 
of humility and mortification, and in some of our English con- 
vents beyond the seas, this sweet office is called Count of Holt. 

Clyk. A bell, Lat. Cloca, Clogga, Glogga, Sax. Clugga, 
Teuton. Glocke, German. Gloggen, Fr. Cloche, Welsh, Clock, 
(possibly from LYit. Clywed, to hear, whence Clyst an ear) Irish, 
Clug, perhaps all derived from the sound. As from the like 
sound, the Clicking of clock or watch, the Clucking of a hen, the 
Clinking of chains, the Clapping of hands, the Clattering and Clut- 
tering of vessels or other moveables, the Clatting or Cutting of the 
finger-nails with scizzers, or Clatting of wool with shears, the 
Cnacking or Knacking of the tongue, i. e. affecting to speak 
finely, a word in the North applied to such as love to speak in the 
Southern dialect, — Super cameram vocatam Clyk-chambour versus 



GLOSSARY. 49 

hrriam, K. p. 57 b. So that our Eng. Clock is plainly so called 
from striking on a Clyk or bell. 

Cock-boat. A small boat that waits upon a larger vessel. 
Dr. Skinner keeps to his habit of trifling in the origination of this 
word, — Nescio an a roslroquod aliquo modo Galli cristce simile est: 
vel ut op time monet Doctor Th. H. a Fr. G. Coque, concha marina, 
•hac credo eti am dejiexum a concha eliso n. To which fancy the 
learned Sir Henry Spelman does incline, Coqua, Linter. a Gall. 
coque,i. concha, testa. Ang. aCock-boat. But certainly what we now 
call a Cock-boat, was formerly a Cogge-boat, and simply a Cogge. 
As Chron. MS. an. 15 Edw. III. cited by Spelman in voce Cogo- 
nes. Many Cogs and ships were taken. And Chaucer : 

" He found Jason and Heracles allso 
Shutte in a Cogge to lond were ygoe." 

which word occurs in the stat. 23 Hen. VIII. cap. 18, and is still 
preserved upon the sea coasts in Yorkbbire, where they call a small 
fisher-boat a Coggle, and in seme places by corruption a Cobble : 
from the German Kogge, a ship, — Posuerunt magnum navim, vul- 
gariler dictum Kogge, cum armatis viris. Histor. Archiepisc. Bre- 
mens. citat. apud Du Fresne in voce Kogge. Hence the Lat. Coqua, 
Cogga, Coggo, Cogo. — An. 10(56. Venit ad hoc in Angliam (Rex 
Noricorum) trecent/s coggonibus advectus, Mat. West, sub an. — 
Prceparatis cogonibus, galleis, etaliis navibus onerariis, — 600 naves 
et 24 coggas bene par at as. Mat. Par. sub an. 1218. Hence Cocula 
•or Coculum , a Cogue or little drinking cup in form of a boat, 
used especially at sea, and still retained in a Cogue of brandy. 
The Coges or Cogs of a mill-wheel, are those slobs or broad pieces 
of board, that like Cogs or boats are drove along by the stream, 
and so turn round the wheel, and axis, and stones. Hence our old 
Sax. Cocrebe, a seaman, called in the Laws of King Hen. I. 
cap. 1Q, Cocseti, and cap. 81, Cothseti. The old Glossary to these 
laws made in the reign of Edw. III. interprets Cocsade, Cocarius, 
which the learned Du Fresne seems to understand Coquus, a 
Cook, but Cocarius is indeed a Boatman, from Coca or Coquia, a 
Boat. As with little variation a Cogge ypane, a Cock-swain, now 
a Coggeson or Coxon, is an officer in a ship. Hence the old Lat. 
Cogcio, Coccio, a wandering and begging seaman, which Sir Henry 
Spelman believes to have been so called from the Gr. xtvxvco, lugeo, 
ploro ; Cotyones, Fr. Coquins, but the true name and original was 
Cogciones, Cog-men or Boat-men, who after ship-wrack or losses 
by sea, travelled about to beg and defraud the people, restrained 
by many civil and ecclesiastical laws, — Ut isli mangones et cogcio* 

e 



50 GLOSSARY. 

nes, qui sine omni lege vagabundi vadunt, per islam terram non 
sinantur vagari, et deceptiones hominibus agere, vid. Spelman in 
voce Coccio, et Du Fresne in voce Cociones From this Lat. Cog' 
ciones, Fr. Coquins, comes our Eng Cockquine or Cock quean, an 
impudent beggar or a cheat : whence no doubt to Cokes or im- 
pose upon by lies and stories, like seamen with their pretended 
losses and sufferings. And a Cokes is an easie credulous person 
deluded by such shams and false tales. In our sea terms we have 
still several words that are owing to the obsolete Cogge a boat. 
As the certificate given to mariners for having paid custom and 
other naval dues is called the Cocket. The hard sea bisket is 
called Cocket- bread, the beach or pebbles with which they ballast a 
ship are Coggle- stones and Cobble stones. Fisher-men's great 
boots with which they wade into the sea are called Cokers. Of 
the same etymology is the Lat. Cocula, Cocci/ la, Cucula, called by 
the present Irish Cochull, a coarse shagged mantle wore at first 
by seamen, as now by all the poorer people, like our Western 
Whittle, — Jtque quot juice in tua coccula, (quod vulgariter voca- 
tur quoddam genus indumenli quo Hibernenses iitunlur, deforis ple- 
num prcminentibus jubis, seu villis in modum minium sunt contexts) 
tot homines per te a posnis perpetuis eruentur. Vita S. Cadoci in 
MS. Cod. Landav. Eccles. citat. a Spelmanno in voce Coccula. 
(The Welsh call a Shepard's hood or coul Cochol.) From whence 
the Cucullus or monk's Coul. The present Welsh Cruch is a boat. 
Hence for a ship to Cruise up and down the sea, a Cruiser. 
Hence the Lat. Cocula or Cogue, a drinking dish in form of a 
boat was called Crusela, Crmellus, from which our Eng. a Cruise 
of vinegar or oil, a Crucible for melting and trying of mettals. 
And as the wearing Cucula or Cucullus was in Eng. a Coul, so the 
vessel Ciccula or liquor continent gave name to our modern vessel 
a Coul, carried between two persons with a Coul-stafF. And the 
Coccula or sea garment was called Crusina and Crosina. 

Colerus. A collar or any thing that goes round the neck, 
which in old English was the Coll or Cull, from Lat. Collum. 
Hence the Collar of a doublet, the Collar of a horse, the Collet of 
a ring, and perhaps a Collop of meat, the Welsh call a band a Col- 
ler, the old Lat. Colponer, slices or cut pieces, in Welsh a Goll- 
with. This possibly is the reason why a great piggin or pail with 
a wide neck is called a Collock in the North, — Et pro uno cart- 
saddle, uno colero, cum uno pari tractuum emptis x\\d. K. p. 54g. 

Collusio. A fraudulent contrivance and compact between 
two or more parties to bring an action one against the other for 
some deceitful end, or to prejudice the right of a third person,— 



GLOSSARY. 51 

Rvquiski de collusione inter partes prcelocula contra statu turn (i. e. 
Westmin 2. cap. 32.) ac etium de valore ejusdem ecclesice, dicunt 
quod nulla est collusio inter partes hide prcclocuta, K. p. 351. 

Combe. A vally or low place between two hills, which is still 
so called in Devonshire and Cornwall, Sax. Cumbe, from Brit. 
Kum or Civm , any deep or hollow place. The learned Da Fresne 
conjectures thus, Anglo Saxonibus Comb, Britanms Kum vallis, 
sic dicta, quod cumbce seu navigii ita nuncupati quod cavum est et 
longius speciem refer at : seu ab alveo navis qui Cumba etiam dice* 
hatur. But I rather think the Lat, cumba, melted into cymba, 
l ; ke the Brit, cwmri into cymri, was derived from the Brit, or old 
Gall. Cum, Kum or Civm. For cumba signified at first only the 
keel or bottom of the ship or boat, and thence by synecdoche 
(like Carina and Puppis) was taken tor the whole vessel. Hence 
no doubt catacumbce the Catacombs or Caverns of ancient sepul- 
ture near to Rome, where the primitive Roman Christians buried 
their dead cata cumbas or ad cumbas, at the crypts or hollow- 
caverns. Whence in our old charters cumba tcrrce and comba 
terrce occurs for a low piece of ground. As in England several 
villages from their low situation in a bottom, or at the foot of hills, 
obtained the name of Combe and Compton, as in Warwickshire, 
Oxfordshire, &c. K. p. lOp. Hence our country-men retain the 
word Comb or Coom for the Bin or low place where they keep 
corn and chaff for their horses. So in Wiltshire the Comb or 
Coom of a window, is the bottom or lower ledge of the window. 
Mr. Somner with good judgement confutes the derivation of Cam- 
bria or the country now called Wales, from Camber son of Brute, 
or from Cimri the progeny of Gomer : and then takes much pains 
to deduce it from the Brit, cam and combe, crooked, as if Cambria 
from its situation among creeks and windings : as a Camber nose, a 
crooked nose. Arms a Kembo, Kim-kam, &c. But at last he seems 
to come nearer to the truth, — Si tamen rectius dicenda sit Cumbria, 
quam Cambria, quod per vie licet, turn petendum forte nomen a 
veteri nostratium voce sive verbo to cumber, i. e. impedire, moles- 
tare ; quod, instar Cumberlandiae, Cambria regio sit montibus ab- 
ruplis, terrarum arduis, saxetis, silvis, saitibus, stagnis, paludibus, 
impedita, inaccessa, et impervia, saltern viantibus quam mole ta. 
This learned man would have been more happy if (without rest- 
ing in the word cumber, which is owing to cmn.be or filling up a 
deep hollow place) he had proceeded to derive cumri from cwm, 
and brory a place or country : so as the Brit. Cwmry, Lat. Cum- 
Iria, like our Eng. Cumberland, might be a country where the 
inhabitants lived chiefly in the Combs or Cloughs, or vallys sur- 
rounded by the mountains. 

e2 



52 GLOSSARY. 

Communa, Communio pasturce. Commons or fight of Com-' 
mon in open fields or woods : all the tenants and inhabitants who 
had this right (now the Commoners) were formerly called the 
Communance and Comaunce. — The abbat and convent of Missen- 
den in right of their cell or hermitage at Musewell had communio* 
nem pasture tarn in Iosco quam in piano, K. p. "jQ.— Inquisitiojiat 
utrum mem brum illud de manerio de Brehuli quod idem Thomas 
tenet, debet participare devaslo manerii de Brehuli ratione commu- 
nes ejusdem manerii, in qua communa nihil habent ut dicunt, 
K. p. 171. Whence communare to enjoy the right of Common- 
ing, — Talis, appropriatio et inclusio nonjiat in prato falcabili, sed 
in tali loco ubi tenentes omni tempore anni consueverunt communare 
seu communam clamare, K. p. 336. 

Compertorium. A judicial inquest in the civil law made by 
delegates, to find out and relate the truth of a cause, — Et in car- 
nibus porcinis emptis pro clericis domini archiepiscopi sedentibus 
super compertorium apud Burcestre, K. p. 5/5. 

Comi'utum redder e. To give up Accounts. Hence the old 
word a Count or declaration in law. The Contours or Counters 
were the serjeants at law retained to plead a cause, as Chaucer, 

" A Sheriff had he been and a Contour, 
Was no where sich a worthy Vavasour.'" 

Hence to cast Accompt, a Counter or table of Counting in a shop, 
a Counter or piece of brass with which they Counted. The 
Counter or prison in London where the citizens were secured till 
they had accounted and paid \heir debts, — Adamus de Catmere 
reddit computum pro Bernardo de S- IValerico, K. p. 123. 

Compostum, Compositum, Compost. Any dung or sullage or 
other unctuous matter, compounded (in heraldry Componed) to 
fatten and improve a soil : whence compos tare to lay on dung or 
enrich the ground, — Inter Hokeday et diem S. Martini bene pos- 
sunt ibidem ducentce quadruginta muttones sustentari ad opus domi- 
ni ad terrain suam compostandam, K. p. 4Q5. 

Confessor. In 34 Edw III, the arch-bishops and bishops 
through their respective dioceses granted indulgence to all those 
who went to sea against the common enemy, with particular privi- 
lege to choose their own Confessor, K. p. 488. For the Confes- 
sionar to receive Confessions, was in the old Eng to Shreve or to 
Shrive, Sax. rrprjran, whence the party Confessed wa9 bej-cnipan, 
whence our Eng. Beshreved, or looking like a confessed or be- 
shrieved person, who is imposed a penance 5 to Beshrew is to im- 
precate or denounce the curse of sin as in Confession. The act of 
Confession was called rcjupte, whence possibly to Shift or Shuffte 



GLOSSARY. 53 

in discourse, like people who are ashamed or afraid to tell all their 
faults. The most solemn time of confessing was the day before 
Lent, which from thence is called Shrove-Tuesday. 

Consecratio. The first form of consecrating churches in 
England wa« at a synod held at Ceichyth. an. Sl6, K. p. Gog. 
A solemn consecration of several churches in the diocese of Lincoln, 
and particularly in the archdeaconry of Oxford, an. 1238, by Ro- 
bert Grosthead bishop of Lincoln, and William Brewer of Exeter, 
K. p. 221. No church could be legally consecrated without an 
allotment of manse and glebe, generally given by the lord of the 
manner, who thereby became patron of the church, K. p. 222. 
Several portions given to the church of Chesterton, nomine dotis 
ad ejusdevi ecclesice dedication em, K. p. 222. One virgate and six 
acres of land given at the consecration of the church of Wormen- 
hale, K. p. 327. One virgate, one tothland, and eight acres given 
at the dedication of the church of Heyford ad pontem, conse- 
crated by Wulfwin bishop of Dorchester, who came to that see 
an. 104(5, and died an. 106/, 2 Will. Conq. p. 514. Two marks 
paid as a procuration to the bishop, for the provision and entertain- 
ment of himself and retinue. — Nos R. Clonens. episcopum vice ve- 
nerabilis palris R. Dei gratia Line, episc. ecclesiam de Elsefetd sep- 
timo id. Julii, an. Dom. mcclxxiii. dedicasse, et rccepisse a procu- 
rutore rectoris dictce ecclesice duas marcas, nomine procurationis 
ratione dedicalionis ecclesice , K. p. 515. 

Conservator. A delegated umpire or standing arbitrator, 
who as a third impartial friend, was chose or appointed to compose 
and adjust all differences that should arise between two other 
parties. — Ego Simon rector ecclesice de Hayford- Warine — sulju 
ciendo me coercioni et compulsion!, civilibus judicibus vet delegatis, 
seu conservatori quem died religiosi et eorum successores duxerint 
eligendum, K. p. 5 i 3. Whence our English Conservatour became 
a forinsick word, as Conservatour of the truce and safe conducts, 
appointed by Stat. 2 Hen. V. cap. 6, and 4 Hen. V. cap. 7. 
Conservatours of the peace or justices instituted by King Edw. III. 
8pp. 

Consistorium. The court Christian or spiritual court, held 
formerly in the nave of the cathedral church, or in some chappel, 
i6le, or portico belonging to it, in which the bishop presided, and 
had some of his clergy for assessors and assistants. But this Con- 
sistory court is now held by the bishop's chancellor or commissary, 
and by archdeacons or their officials, — Cum inter abbatem et con- 
ventum Osen. ex parte una, et priorem et conventum de Burcester ex 
altera, in consistorio Lincoln, aliquandiu litigatum fuisset, K. p. 343. 

pONSTABULARius. Constable. A Lat. Comes Staluli, th.e 



54 GLOSSARY. 

master of the horse, or prefect of the imperial stables in the de- 
cline of the Roman empire. Afterwards applied to any officer 
who had the guard or custody of any place or persons. Brien 
Fitz-Count constable of Walingford, 13 Hen I. K. p. 84. Ro* 
lertus de Oily constabularius regis , K. p. 93. 

Consuetudo. Dies de consueludine, A day's work to be paid 
as a cnstumary service by the tenant, — Debent redditum, et prcete-* 
tea quinque dies de consueludine, K. p. 229. 

Convenike coram Rege. To convene or cite a person to ap- 
pear in the king's court, and answer an action preferred against 
him. — Mancrium. de Erdinthon dominus rex tradidit cuidam Ber~ 
nardo de Sancto Walerico, quern Godefridus abbas de Egnesham 
scepius convenit coram rege dejure suo, K, p. 133. 

Coppire domum. To Cope a house or to lay on the roof and 
covering on the top of \t.—Johanni Banbury tegulatori capienti in 
grosso ad coppiendam prcedutam domum iv.Iib. i.den. K. p. 575, 
From the Sax. Coppe, the height or top of a thing, Cop a head, 
all from the Brit. Koppa, the top or highest part. Hence the 
Cope or upper covering, as Prov. Under the Cope of heaven. A 
Cope or upper garment, as the outer vest of a priest, and the cloak 
or surtour. of any other person, as in Chaucer a Cope is used for a 
cloak. Hence possibly the southern term to Gaincope or cross a 
field, i. e. to strike off the nearest way to the top or head of the 
land. A hat with a high crown is called a Copped crown hat. A 
sea Cobbe or Coppe is a bird with a tuft of plumes on the head.. 
A Coppe or Cob-nut is the top or chief or head-nut A Cobble is 
a large pebble stone. Coping-stones are laid on the Cope or Cop- 
ing or top of a wall. Copt in the North is high, as a Copt-man, 
i. e. a proud and high- minded man. Copt-know or Copt-knolle 
is the conical top of a hill. A Coppice is properly a small wood 
or toft of trees on the ascent of a hill. A Cop of hay, a Cop of 
pease, a Cop of straw, &c. are used in Kent for a high rising heap: 
which the monks turned into Coppa, so to be understood in that 
passage of Will. Thorn infer X. Script, col. 1820. an. J 177. — 
Pacti sunt homines de halmoto de Menstre in Thaneto — -fruges om~. 
ties suas coppare ex tunc et deinceps, et sic per coppas omnes decimas 
suas ipsi et hceredes sui a modo et in (sternum legitime dare. 
Which the learned Du Fresne cites in voce Coppa: but seems to 
understand it only of cutting down their corn, whereas it denotes 
the gathering or laying up the corn in Copes or heaps, (as they do 
barley and other corn not bound) that it might be the more easily 
and justly tithed. — Quere whether these words are not owing to 
the same original, a Knob or Knoppe a high swelling bunch. A 
Knoll of trees or high toft of trees upon a hill. Knolls or round 



GLOSSARY. 55 

headed roots or turneps so called in Kent. A Knoddle or Noddle 
a head. A Knot or protuberance in trees, See. Gold knops or 
the flowers of the ranunculus. The Koape or Nape, Sax. Neap, 
in Kent the Nod of the neck. A Cap for the head, the Cape of a 
cloak, Sec. 

Co prose, Copperas, Vitriol. From Copper, a Lat. Cuprum, or 
Dutch Ko'er. The German Kupjferigt . angesicht , was an old phrase 
for what we call brazen -face or copper-face, and Kupjerige-nase, 
for what we call a Copper-nose, or a red carbuncled nose, which 
was exposed as a sign to some Hospitia, innes, or houses of enter- 
tainment, from whence was the first occasion of Brazen-nose 
College in Oxford, — In solutis sup-priori pro coprose et gaily s 
emptis pro encausto W.den. K. p. 5/4. The chief places where 
they made this Copperas in England, are Deptford and Foikstone 
in Kent, and Brickelsey in Essex. The metalline stones from 
which the liquor is dissolved are gathered on the coast of the Isle 
of Shepey, and on the shore near Bright-Kelmston in Sussex, and 
several other parts 

Corbel-Stones. I think the same with what Dr. Skinner 
calls Corbets, and from some authority expounds them to be stones 
wherein images stand. It seems derived from the Fr. Corbeitle, 
Lat. Corlulus. The old Eng. Corbel and Corbetel was properly 
a nich in the wall of a church or convent, in which they placed an 
image, and the Corbel-stones were the smooth and polished stones 
laid for the front and outside of the corbels or niches. As at pre- 
sent on the south-side of the church of Ambrosden, the said cor- 
bels or niches remain, though the images are taken away. But 
the same niches and little statues or figures in them continue in 
the walls of very many old churches and steeples. — Et in solutis 
Johanni Cnepyn latamo aptanti et facienti xviii. corbel stony s /o- 
nendis in prcedicto muro v. sol. \v.den. K. p. 5J5. 

Cot ag i um. A Cottage or a Cot, from Sax. Core, Island. Ket> 
a little house or hut, — Tenetur per socagium, et non habentur ibi' 
dem nisi tria cotagia, K. p. 305. Duo messuagia cum uno cotagio, 
K. p. 379. Hence a sheep^Cote or sheep-Cot. Cotswold in 
Glocestershire, &c. and the teiminationof Cote or Cot in very 
many villages. 

Cotarius. Sax. Cotyebe, old Eng. Cotseth, Cottman, Cottyer, 
now Cottager, or the inhabitant of any country Cot, — Summa gal* 
linarum carucatariorum et cotariorum xiv. galtince, K. p. 354. 
Hence a country clown is now called a Meer Cot, as a citizen ig- 
norant of country affairs a Meer Cit. 

Coterellus. Spelman and Du Fresne make Cotarius and 
Coterellus to be both the same servile inhabitants. But I think in 



56 GLOSSARY. 

the Doomsday Register and other ancient MSS. there does appear 
a distinction, not only in their name but in their tenure and quality. 
The Cotarius had a free soccage tenure, and paid a firm or rent in 
provisions or mony, with some custumary service But the Cote- 
relius held in absolute villenage, and had his person and goods dis- 
posed at the pleasure of the lord. — Edmund earl of Cornwall gave 
to the Bonhommes of Asherugge his mannors of Chesterton and 
Anibrosden, — Una cum villanis, colerellis, eorum caiallis, ser- 
vitiis, seeds et sequelis, et omnibus suis. ubicunque pertinentibus y 
K. p. 310. 

Cotland, Cotsethland. Land held by a cottager whether in 
soccage or villenage, — Bimidia acra jacet ibidem, inter cotland 
quam Johannes Goldering tenet ex una parte, et cotland quam 
Thomas Webbe tenet ex altera, K. p. 532. 

Cowele. A Cowl or Coul, or tub with two ears to be carried 
between two persons on a Coul-staff. From Cucuia or Cocula, a 
vessel like a boat, from Coca or Cogga, a boat, vid. Cogge. A 
Cowl in Essex is the appellative for any tub : whence a Cowler, 
now pronounced a Cooler, or brewing vessel.— Pro novo cowele 
empto ix. den K. p. 549. 

Crest, Crista. Any imagery or carved work to adorn the head 
or top of any thing, like our modern cornish. This word is now 
adopted by the heralds, and applied to the device set over a coat of 
arms. — Et J illielmo Hykkedon conducto in grosso ad wensam do- 
mini ad dolandum, et perjiciendum le crest super cancel turn, prior atus. 
ibidem, K. p. 5J5. 

Croft, from Sax. Cjiopre, Cjmpte, which Spelman deduces 
from the Lat. Crypta or Gr. Kpuirlou. A close or small enclosure 
nigh a dwelling house, Totam terram qua: est inter crqftamGilberti 
molendinarii , et messuagium quodfuit Adami, K. p. 135. 

Croppus A Crop of corn or the yearly product of arable land. 
From Sax. Cpoppar, ears of corn, Cpop, the top or head of any 
thing: whence to Crop or cut off the upper part : Crop-eard, a 
Crop of beef. In Sussex they call darnel Crop, and in Worcester- 
shire buck-wheat goes by this name of Crap. The old [.at. Cropa 
was the buttock of a horse, whence a Crupper,— Idem abbas ex 
mera liberalitate sua croppum de dicta crofta prwfato priori instant 
ter concessit pro hac vice, K. p. 298. 

Crucem assumere. To take the Cross, or to engage upon oath 
to undertake a personal expedition in the Holy War, for the re- 
covery of Jerusalem, and as a badge of their vow to Saunter, to 
wear a cross on their upper garment. So Brien Fitz Count lord of 
Walingford took on him the cross, and adventured to Jerusalem, 
K. p. 111. When persons had taken the cross, they bought aa 



GLOSSARY. 5? 

absolution to excuse them from the danger : by which means some 
of the nobility, when they had formed a crusade of great numbers 
among their tenants and dependants, they obtained a general dis- 
pensation from the Pope, which they sold ngain by retail, to release 
and disengage all those who had more mind to stay at home. This 
project was very beneficial to Richard earl of Cornwall : and 
therefore the same favour was asked and obtained from the Pope 
by William Longspe in 30 Edw. III. K. p. 238. 

Cupa, Cuppa. A Cup or small metalline drinking vessel. 
Sax. Cuppe, Brit. Kuppan. Hence a Cup-bord, a Cupping-glass, 
an acorn-Cup, and the Italian Cupulo was taken from this form. 
The plate or drinking Cup of bishops and abbats was part of the 
heriot paid to the king at their decease. — Abbas de Oaeneia obiit 
anno regni regis Edwardi vicesimo quinto, — petiit eschaetor ad 
opus domini regis cuppam et palefridum dicti abbatis dejuncti, 
K. p. 330. Fid. Prynne, Histor. Collect, torn. 2. p. 834. 

Curia. Taken sometimes for the persons or feudatory tenants 
who did their suit and service at the court of the lord. So to a 
charter of Bernard de S. Walery, 30 Hen. II. — Hiis testibus — et 
ornni curia mea, K. p 13Q. 

Cukia Canonicarum. The convent or conventual house. — * 
Juvta rivulum extra curiam dictorum canonicorum, K. p. 177- 

Curia Personce Eccltsice, The parsonage house, — Omnes ob- 
ventiones altaris et ccemiterii prccdictce ecchsioi, et totam terrain et 
curiam personce, K. p. 205. — crojiam quce jacet juxta curiam per- 
sona;, lb. 

Curia capitalis. Vid. Mansum capitale. 

Curi^: adventus. The service of coming to the court of the 
lord, — Reddit per annum ad terminum ipsius unam marcam, et 
unum adventum curiae, K. p. 400, 

Curialitas. Courtesie or pnro kindness. — Et in dads Willi* 
elmo Skynner garconi de pistrina ex curialitate falcatorum per 
x. dies xii. den- K. p. bjQ. Curialitas Anglicc was that custom 
which we call the courtesie of England, when a man who has had 
a child by his wife deceased, enjoys her estate during his own 
life. 

Curtilagium. From Lat. Curs, Curtis, a coop or pen, or 
other small enclosure. A Curtilage, mistaken by our writers for a 
garden, when it properly was a yard or back-side adjoining to a 
bouse for the running of poultry, the keeping of hogs, &c. — Cur- 
tilagium cum, pertinentiis suis, K. p. 269. Et dicunt quod infra 
curiam domini est unum curtilagium ad nutriendos porcellos quod 
valet per an. xiiof. K. p. 495. 

Gustos Abbatice. The person to whose custody a vacant abby 



58 GLOSSARY. 

was committed, who as a steward of the rents and profits, was to 
give account to the escbaetor, and he to the king — Mandatum est 
IValtero de Lutegareshale custodi abbatice de Oseneia quod ccca- 
sione dictorum cupce palejridi et /anarum nichil exigat, K. p,330. 

Custumarius. An inferiour tenant in villenage or soccage, 
who by custom is obliged to pay such service of work and labour 
for his lord. — Ipse Robertas et ornnes alii custumarii domince, 
K.p.40I. 

Cyric-Scete. Fid, Church- scot. The original of the 
custom and continuance of it historically delivered, K p. 603. 

D. 

Dane-Gelt. A tribute which the Danes upon their frequent 
incursions imposed on the English, as the arbitrary terms of peace 
and departure, an. 8j3, K. p. 38 : first imposed on the whole 
ration to continue as a yearly pension to the Danes under King 
Ethelred, an. 991.. Alfred and Ingulph report that King Edward 
the Confessor remitted and abrogated this tax. But it is certain 
that William the Conquerour, though he would not reduce the 
annual payment, yet he ordered the raising of it as often as the ne- 
cessities of invasion or of expedition did require. It was severely 
exacted and augmented by William Rufus. And in the reign of 
Hen. I. it was computed among the king's standing revenues. 
The next successour, King Stephen, promised by oath on his coro- 
nation day, that this Danegeld should be for ever remitted, Hen. 
Hunt, p. 387- From which time some writers have dated the ex- 
piration of this tax. Yet it seems rather to have continued upon 
extraordinary occasions, till it was abrogated by time, or rather 
swallowed up in tallage and parliamentary impositions, The laws 
of Edw. Conf. cap. 11, rate this tax at \2d. on every hide. Hen. 
Hunt, computes it at Is. on each hide ; and Jo. Brompton at 3d. 
on a bovate or o^gang. No doubt it varied according to the diffe- 
rent exigencies upon which it was levied- To be exempted from 
this tax was a peculiar priviledge granted by King Hen. II. to the 
tenants within the honor of Walingford, ut sint quieti de geldis et 
danegeldis, K p. 114. In the donation of lands to religious uses, 
when many other burdens were remitted, this was still reserved : 
so in 27 Hen I i , Henry de Oily gave four hides in Chesterton to 
theabby of Egnesbam, liberas et quietas ab omnibus querelis, ex- 
ceptis wurdredo et danegeldo, K. p. 134,403. 

Dayer a, Dayri, Dairy. It is derived by Dr. Skinner from the 
Fr. Derrier, as if the Dairy were on the back part or behind the 
rest of the house. The learned Fr. Junius is no more happy, 



GLOSSARY. 5,9 

when he refers it to the Greek — Aotelpcc et per syncopen Icfioa. 
Hesychio exponitur Sarjuovv 'i^itsipog , gnara. peri/a. Noti enim cu- 
jusvis est curare tacticinia, seci a lactiauiis edulia cnncinnaturam 
singulariruslicarun: rerum experieniia imlulam esse oportet Om- 
nino interim hue pertinet, quod Gallis Dariole dicitur cibi genus 
quod iisdem Gallis alias nuncupatur Laicteron vel flan de laict. Ac 
fortasse quoque Davis ah eadem origin? Dan re dictum est jentacu~ 
lum, quod se[>te?drionales lacticiniis jentare suit soliti. Boih these 
are trifling conjectures : the. word Dayrie, or Deirie, is originally 
English, from Day, Deie, Sax. Dag, and signified at first the daily 
yeild of milch cows, or the daily profit made of them. As a Day- 
work of land was such a quantity as could be ploughed up by one 
plough in one day. W. Thorn inter X. Script, col. 2203, which 
the French called Journal, Lat. Jornale. .So in Lorraine and 
Champagne, they now use the word Dnyer for the meeting of the 
Day-labouring women to give an account of their day's work, and 
receive the wages of it. The Dairy-maid is called Androchia in 
Fleta, 1. 2. cap. 87- Androchia pudica esse debet, et laboriosa 
daerice, — A Dairy in the North is called the Milkness, as the 
Dairy-maid is in all parts a Milk-maid. — IVrechwyke, compotus 
Henrici Deye et Johanna? uxoris suce de omnibus exitibus et proven- 
tibus de dayri domini prions de Burncester, K. p. 548. — Cornpu- 
iant de xxw.sol. vi.den, receptis de dayeria de la Breche, K. 
p. 570. 

Dapifer, a dates ferendo. At first a domestick officer, like our 
steward of the household, or rather clerk of the kitchen. Then 
by degrees any fiduciary servant, especially the chief steward or 
head bayliff of an honor, barony, or mannor. — Malcolmus rex 
Scoticc dapifero suo de honore de Huntingdon, K. p. 1 19. Possibly 
from Dapifer, the chief servant of better figure than the rest, 
comes our present phrases a Dapper-fellow, and Dapperly-done. 
Hence the Lat. Dapsilis, hospitable and generous. — Dapsilis in 
mensa frugalia pabula prcestans, K. p. 3-10. 

Decanus Chrutianitatis. The dean rural or urban who had 
the district of ten churches in the country or city, within which 
he exercised a jurisdiction of great advantage to ecclesiastical dis- 
cipline. They were sometime stiled Archihresbyteri, and were at 
first both in order and authority above the archdeacons, K. p 635. 
They were elected by the clergy, and by their votes again deposed ; 
but afterwards were appointed and removed at the discretion of the 
bishop, and thence called Decani temporarii, as distinguished from 
the cathedral deans, who were Decani perpetui, K. p. 63g. The 
rural dean was sometime simply called Decanus, as in a charter of 
John de'l Osse of Wendlebury, 11 Hen. II. Hiis testibus — ifo- 



60 GLOSSARY. 

gero decano de Pire, K. p. 121. So likewise the urban or city 
dean, as in a composition between the abby of Egnesham, and 
priory of Burcester, 34 Hen, II. Hiis testibus — Nigello decano 
de Oxenford, K. p. 144. Called Decanus Episcopi in the Laws of 
Edw. Confess, p. 633. Deans rural and urban collected the taxes 
imposed upon the clergy, K. p. 130. The chapter in every 
deanery were a court Christian for determining the right of tithes, 
&c. K. p. 123. Robert Grosthead bishop of Lincoln by advice of 
the predicant fryers, commanded his archdeacons and rural deans 
to make strict inquisition into the lives of all the nobility and com- 
monalty within their precincts, which was thought such a griev- 
ance and imposition upon the liberty of sinners, that upon com- 
plaint the king interposed and stopt the proceedings, K. p. 23 8. 
The taxation of benefices by Walter bishop of Norwich, an 1254, 
was done by the bishop's appointing the dean and three rectors or 
vicars in every deanery, who upon oath were to certifie the just 
estimate of all church revenues, K. p. 312. All the parochial 
clergy bound by oath to attend the rural chapters, to which pur^ 
pose the appropiiators were sometime obliged to find a horse for 
the poor vicar, K. p. 304. It was their office to give induction to 
clerks after their presentation by the patron, and admission or in- 
stitution by the bishop. So an. 1220, 5 Hen. III. Richard rural 
dean of Wodesdon inducted the prior and canons of St. Frides- 
wide into the appropriated tithes of Oakle, and certified it by 
special instrument concluding thus, — Ego et plures alii viri fide 
digni de capitulo de IVodesdon in hujus rei testimonium sigilla nostra 
apposuimus , E. p. 407- The same office done by John vicar of 
Wynchendon dean of Wodesdon, an. 1326, ib. The sentence of 
superiour ecclesiastical judges committed to the execution of the 
rural dean, K. p. 40S. The title of Decanus Christianitatis 
falsely applied to the cathedral dean by the editor of Append, ad 
Fascic. p. 636. An historical account of deans rural, urban, ca- 
thedral, and conventual, delivered from p 631 to p. 653. 

Dedication of Churches. The wake or feast of dedication 
kept with solemnity and generous entertainment, — Et in datis 
duobus valectis forestce portantibus carnes ferinas priori infesto de- 
dicationis ecclesice hoc anno v. sol. K. p. 578. Solemn processions 
on the day of dedication, K. p. 658. Those inhabitants who had 
the priviledge of a chapel of ease, were to repair to the mother 
church on that festival, K. p. 595 ; and there to make their ob* 
lations, K. p. 596. The history of the institution and observance 
of wakes or feasts of dedication, K. p. 610. Fid. Consecration 
of Churches. 

Defalta, Defaltum. From Fr. Defiant, default, a neglect cj: 



GLOSSARY. 



61 



Omission of appearance in a court of justice, for which judgement 
might be given against the defalter. — Ipsi non veniunt ad nunc diem, 
unde judicium assises capiatur versus eos per eorum defaltunt, 
K. p. 351. Ipse non venit et alias fecit defaltum, K. p. 479- 

Defendere se. A phrase in the Doomsday Register to be taxt 
for such a quantity of ]and. As the mannor of Brill was taxt for 
twenty hides, Tunc xx. hides se defendebant, K. p. 165. 

Deforciare. Vid. after Devota. 

Demesne. From the Lat. Dominicum , as that part of a mannor 
or estate which the lord keeps in his own hands, or to his own use. 
Or as some pretend from the Fr. de mesne, as land which a man 
holds of himself, and not from a superiour lord. It was generally 
taken for those grounds that were adjacent to the court or mannor 
house, which the lord did not let out to feudatory or servile tenants j 
but either manured himself or assigned to tenants at will. The 
barons often granted (with consent of ecclesiastical authority) the 
tithe of their own demesne to religious houses, K. p. J5, JG. In 
those mannors which our kings held in demesne, they had palaces 
or royal seats, where by frequent changing of their stations, they 
made a sort of constant progress through their whole kingdom, 
K. p. 52. — Manerium de Brekull fuit antiquum dominicum regis, 
K. p. 285. — Homines de manerio de Hedingdon quod est de antiquo 
dominico coronce Anglice, K. p. 31 9. At these demesne mannors 
the kings had free chappels exempt from episcopal jurisdiction : as 
at Brill, Hedingdon, &c. Dominicum pratum, the meadow grounds 
not rented out, but kept in the hands of the lord, K. p. 76. 

Denarius S. Petri. Peter-penny, Hearth. penny, Romefeah, 
Romescot. In the North Ream-penny : where they use this pro- 
verb, He reckons up his Ream-pennies, i. e. he tells all his faults. 
This levy was at first a penny from every house wherein there 
were thirty pence vivce pecunice of ready money : collected and 
sent to Rome, which by custom passed into a standing tax, though 
at first it was only a voluntary contribution, of which one half was 
to goe for alms to the English school at Rome, and the other to 
the Pope's use. It was given first by King Ina, and confirmed by 
King Orfa and King Ethelwolph, established by the laws of King 
Canute, cap. 9, Edgar, cap. 54, Edw. Confess, cap. 10, Will. 
Conqu. cap. 18, Hen. I. cap. 11. Collected by the bishops, who 
employed the archdeacons and rural deans to receive it before the 
festival of St. Peter ad vinculo, Aug. 1, as appointed by the ca- 
nons of King Edgar, K. p. 603. The whole sum was by P. Greg, 
stated at two hundred pounds twenty-six shillings, of which the 
proportion in this diocese of Lincoln was 42/. King Edw. III. 
an. 1365, forbid the payment of this duty to the Pope. But this 



62 GLOSSARY. 

was only a bold instance of that prince's displeasure. For the ciis* 
torn soon returned, and continued to the reign of Hen. VIII. when 
Polydore Virgil was employed here as the Pope's general receiver. 
No place nor religious house was exempted from this imposition, 
but only the abby of St. Albans. Some churches and parishes 
paid a stated composition, as in 30 Hen. II. Capellce de Egnes- 
ham et de Chers'mton, et de Ardinton, similiter etiam ccclesice de 
Stoches et de Cherlehiri ah omni onere episcopali ub antiquo liber ce 
sunt, nee solvent pro denariis beati Petri nisi octo solidos, K. p. 140. 
In the diocese of Canterbury the rural deans were the collectors in 
their respective districts, K. p. 648. The religious often obliged 
their firmers and tenants to pay a certain proportion towards this 
tax : as in the rental of the abby of Glastonbury taken an. 1201. — 
Manerium Glaston. reddit per annum in gabulo vi. lib. v'n.sol. — in 
denariis S. Petrin\\\\\.den.-—Pylton reddit in gabulo xiii. lib. \v.sol* 
— de denariis S. Petri m.sol. tjfe. Cartul. Abbat. Glaston. MS. 
p. 38. 

Denarius tertius Comitatus. In the fines and other profits 
arising from the county courts, two parts were allotted to the king 
and a third part or penny to the earl of the county, who either re- 
ceived it in specie at the assises and trials, or had an equivalent 
composition paid from the Exchequer. So Eubulo le Strange in 
right of his wife Alice, daughter and heir of Henry de Lacy earl 
of Lincoln, had by letters patent 5 Edw. III. Custodiam et war- 
dam castelli nostri de Lincoln, cum balliva ibidem, et viginti libra' 
tas annui redditus pro tertio denario comitatus, K. p. 418. 

Dbvarii. A general term for any sort of money, — Solventur 
hominibus de Hedingdon de denariis domini, singulis annis proximo 
die quo fai 'care incipient, quinque solidi, K. p. 320. 

Despjnsare. To take a woman in marriage. So of Maud 
daughter and heir of Robert de Oily, sen. Milo Crispinus despon~ 
savit earn, K. p. 112. Mulier desponsata, a lawful wife. Henry 
de Fontibus gave his estate to his sister and her husband, in default 
of issue so lawfully begotten, — Nisi hceredem habuero de muliere 
desponsata, K. p. 115. 

Detach i are, Dittachiare. By a writ of Detachment to seise 
or take into custody goods or persons, — Nee nos nee hceredes 
nostri prccdictum Radulphum vel hceredes suos dittachiemus vel dis- 
seisin faciemus, K. p. 203. 

DEVisiE. The borders or limits of division between lands, pa- 
rishes, or counties,— Sic usque Hetheneburn inter Akemanstrete inter 
devisas com. Oxon. et Buck. K. p. 324. Hence the Devises or 
Devizes, a town in Wiltshire, situate on the confines of the West 
Saxon and Mercian kingdoms. 



GLOSSARY. 63 

Devota Deo. A woman in her widowhood, or latter part of 
her life, took a religious habit, and was called a Vowess or De- 
votee. — So Edith widow of Robert de Oilly, jun. in old age grew 
penitent, and became Memoralilis matrona Deo devota, K. p. 95. 

Deforciabe, Strictly and properly to turn out by violence, or 
to keep possession of lands in open violation of the rights of the 
heir or lawful owner. But it often signified no more than to fence 
off a suit or action, or to defend the right and property of posses- 
sion. And therefore in assises or trials, the claimer or plaintiff 
was called Querens, and the possessor or defendant was Deforcians, 
— Inter JohannemjiUum Nigelii querentem, et Sampsonem de Adin- 
grave et Mariam uxor em ejus deforciantes, K. p. 29 1. Idem 
K. p. 291, 321. 

Deforciatio. A distraint or seizure of goods for satisfaction 
of a lawful debt,, — Nos et hceredes nostros distringere possint per 
bona mobilia et immokilia et hominum nostrorum, et deforciationem 
tenere quousque plenariefuerit satisfactum, K. p. 293. 

Disseisire. To disseise, eject, or turn out of possession. 
Rex Richntdus I. disseisiuit Gerardum de Camvilla de castello et 
vicecomitatu Lincolniensi, K. p. 152. 

Distringere. To distrain and keep the districtiones, distresses, 
or distraints, till payment and full satisfaction, — Possint nos et sue- 
cessores nostros et prcedictas omnes terras — distringere ad solutionem 
memoratam, et districtiones retinere quousque— plenarie juerit satis- 
faction, K. p. 344. 

Domesday-Book. When King Alfred divided his kingdom 
into counties, hundreds, and tithings, he had an inquisition taken 
of the several districts, and digested into a register called Dom-boc, 
i. e. the judicial or judgement book, reposited in the church of 
Winchester, and thence entitled Codex JVintoniensis, to which 
KingEdw. sen. seems to refer in the first chapter of his Laws. 
The general survey taken by King Will, Conq. was after the pre- 
cedent of King Alfred, and seems but a corruption of, or rather an 
addition to, the same name, Domboc into Domesday-book. And 
therefore a trifling derivation to impute the name to Domus Dei, as 
if so called from the church wherein it was first reposited. Nor is 
it any wiser conjecture to ascribe it to Doomsday or the final day 
of judgement. When the appellation does really imply no more 
than the Doom-book, or register from which sentence and judge- 
ment might be given in the tenure of estates r whence by Latin 
writers commonly called Liber Judicialis. Nor may it be impro- 
per to observe (because no notice has been yet taken of so small 
a matter) that the addition of dey or day, (Dome-hoc, Domesday- 
book) does not augment the sense of the word, but only doubles 



61 



GLOSSARY. 



and confirms it. For the word dey or day in that composition" 
does not really signifie the measure of time, but the administration 
of justice. For as Dr. Hammond well observes in his Annotation 
on Heb. 10, 25. The word day in all idioms does signifie judge- 
ment. So 1 Cor. 3, 13. AvQpooirlvE ypEpa, is humane judgement, 
(See. And even now in the North a Deies-man or Days-man, is an 
arbitrator, an umpire, or judge. So as Doomsday-book is no more 
than the book of judicial verdict, or decretory sentence, or doom- 
ing of judgement, K.p. 63. 

Domina. A title given to those women who in their own right 
of inheritance held a barony. So Maud the daughter of Robert 
de Oily, sen., who inherited the honour of Walingford, was there- 
fore stiled Matildis domina de Walingford, K. p. 78. 

Dominium. Right or legal power. — In sylva died manerii sive 
dominii de Pidintona, aut infra preecinctum ejusdem non habent 
uliqui extranet dominium aliquo modo in parte vel in toto se intro- 
mittere, K. p. 498. 

Dos. It properly signified the portion brought by the wife to 
the husband, and not the dowry settled by the husband on the 
wife. Yet it was sometime taken in this latter sense, for the 
jointure to be enjoyed by the widow after the husband's decease. 
And if an equal provision had not been made before the husband's 
death, his relict might sue the heirs at law de rationabili dote t for 
a reasonable share of the estate to be assigned for her maintenance. 
So Eustace the relict of Thomas de Verdon taking for a second 
husband Richard de Camvill, she claimed her reasonable dowry of 
Nicholas de Verdon, her husband's heir, which occasioned a legal 
fine, inter Richardum de Camvill et Eustaciam, uxorem ejus peten- 
ies, et Nicholaum de Verdon tenentem de rationabili dote ipsius Eu~ 
slacice, quam ipsa clamat versus eundem Nicholaum de omnibus te- 
nements qutefuerint Thomce de Verdon quondam viri sui, K. p. 166. 
Vid. Duakium. 

Draw-Gere. Any furniture of cart-horses for drawing a wag- 
gon or other carriage : from Draw and Sax. geajijie, in our Eng. 
Geer, any preparatory utensils or instruments, and especially cloaths 
and bodily habit, whence geapkm or jerkin, a short diminutive 
coat. From geajinian, to provide or to cloath. This the modern 
Latin writers turned into Gerada, which Du Fresne rightly inter- 
perets, utensilia aut quemvis apparatum, but seems with some 
violence to derive it from the German Ghe-reed, when it bears 
more immediate relation to the Sax. geajijie, old Eng. Geere, as 
in the obsolete proverb, Ne gold ne geere, i. e. neither money nor 
goods. In no geere, i. e. not ready, unprovided : whence the old 
word Geerefull or Gierefull, well habited or well fitted with arms^ 



GLOSSARY. 60 

as in Chaucer, Troilus, 1. 4, f. 167. " To preve in that thy gierfull 
violence." Hence the Sax. Gearib, Eng. Yard, properly Geard or 
Garden, or as now in Lincolnshire Garth, a place well fenced and 
cultivated. Thence Gyjiban and gypbl, to girt, a girdle, a garter. 
In the North to Garre, i. e. to make a garment or do any other 
work. Sax. Geajin, Eng. Yarn, still in the North called Gam, or 
wool workt into a thread, Gea/iman, Eng. to Earn, or obtain by 
labour. The old word Garth is owing to the same original, and 
signified any work or device, to take or to catch game. As the 
Fish-garths in stat. 23 Hen. VIII. cap. IS, were nets and unlaw- 
ful engines for catching fish, used by the Garth -men or poachers, 
mentioned stat. 1, 13 Rich. II. cap. 9, et an. 17, cap. 19. The 
sound and the sense of the Sax. Geajijie and geajijnan are more 
nearly preserved in the present English Head-geer, i. e. head- 
cloaths ; Horse-geer, i. e. harness ; Gearish and Garish, i, e. spruce 
and fine. And in the North to geer or to gear, is to dress ; whence 
prov. Snogly geared, i. e. neatly dress'd. As in the South, we say 
such a person is in his geers, or out of his geers. — Projactura de 
draw-gere per Walter um Carpenter de Langeton iii d. K. p. 549. 

Duarium, Doarium, Dotarium. The Dowry of a wife settled 
on her in marriage to be enjoyed after her husband's decease. The 
English Dowrie is by Fr. Junius rightly referred to the old Eng. 
to Dowe, L e. to give, as Chaucer, " To whom for evermore mine 
hart I dowe," whence a Dose or Do ws, or portion of any thing given 
to eat or drink, is as near the old Eng. as the primitive Greek. 
The same Junius does conjecture that our English Widow is hence 
owing to the Sax. ]7eb and buf.e, as if a woman wedded to or by 
covenant assured of such a certain dowry. To which sense the 
word Dowager does well agree. The wife with consent of her hus- 
band could assign a part of her dowry to religions uses. — Ego 
Editha Roberto de Oili conjugali copula juncta consilio et voluntate 
ejusdem Roberti mariti mei de duario meo de Weston dedi in perpe- 
tuam eleemosinam, £f?c. K. p. 94. 

Dytenum, Dictenum. A Dittany, Ditty, or Song. Venire cum 
toto ac pleno dyteno, to sing harvest home. Homines de Hedyng- 
don ad curiam domini singulis annis inter festum S. Michaelis et 
S. Martini venient cum toto ac pleno dyteno sicut hactenus consue- 
verunt, K. p. 320. 

E. 

Eleemosina. Sax. iElmerr, Eng. Alms j Eleemosinaria, Fr. 
Aumonerie, Eng. Aumerie, Aumbry, Ambry, which in the North 
they now use for a pantry or cup-board, Welsh Almari. Eleemo- 

f 



66 



GLOSSARY. 



smarms, Almoner, Eleemosina pura et perpetua, et libera. Pure 
and perpetual Frank-Almoigne. Lands so given to religious uses 
were discharged from all taxes and other secular burdens, — Qua- 
liter extincta sunt feoda dornini albatis quae ab ipso petita sunt, — 
profert chartam Roberti de O/leio, et confirmation em regis quod 
habet~in puram et perpetuam eleemosinam, K. p. 305. 

Emendatio domorum et sepium. The repair of houses and 
mending of hedges. To religious houses a privilege was often 
granted to receive as much wood as was needful for these purposes. 
So the abby of Missenden in right of their hermitage at Musewell 
had a grant from Joan de Pidington,— de bosco quod opus fuerit ad 
emendationem domorum et sepium suarum, K. p 76. 

Emendatio Panis et Cervince. The assise of bread and beer, 
or the power of supervising and correcting such weights and mea- 
sures, a privilege granted by the king to lords of mannors, which 
power gave occasion to the present office of Ale- taster, appointed 
in every court-leet, and sworn to look to the assise of bread, and 
ale or beer, within the precincts of that lordship, — Ad nos spectat 
emendatio panni panis et cervisice, et quicquid regis est excepto mur- 
dredo et latrocinio probata, K. p. 196. 

Episcopale onus, Episcopalia. Synodals, Pentecostals, and other 
taxes and contributions from the clergy to the diocesan bishop. 
Which burden was remitted by special privilege to some churches, 
and especially to those free chappels that weie built upon the king's 
demesne. 80 30 Hen. II. Cape/Ice de Egnesham et de Chersinton 
et de Ardinton. Similiter etiam ecclesice de Stoches et de Cherle- 
biri ab omni onere episcopali liber ce sunt, K. p. J 40. 

Ernes. The loose scattered ears of corn that are left on the 
ground after the binding or cocking of it. — Conducto ad prcepa- 
randum usque ad rarectam xxix. seliones — ordei cum les ernes viz. 
viii. den. K. p. 576. From the old Teuton, /ihr, an ear of corn j 
Ernde, harvest ; Emden, to cut or mow corn. Hence to Ern is 
in some places the same as to Glean, or what in Kent we call to 
Lease. Hence Ersh in Sussex is the stubble after the corn is cut, 
what in Kent we call the Gratten, in the North Eddish, from the 
Sax. Gbiyc, roughings and aftermaths. The Ersh in Sussex is in 
Surry the Esh, as a wheat-Esh, a barley-Esh, &c. 

Escaetoe Regis. The king's eschaetor. who took intocustody 
and accounted for all escheats to the crown, as forfeitures, lapses, 
wards, &c. Of which officers there was one commissioned in 
every county to execute ihe office for one year, and to certifie his 
receipts into the Exchequer. Thomas Maunsel escaetor regis in 
com. Buck, computat regi xxxvs. de manerio de Lutegareskale, 
K. p. 246. This officer received all heriots due to the king, and 



GLOSSARY. 67 

entered upon all vacant sees and abbies held in barony, and ac- 
counted for the intermediate profits which arose before the resti- 
tution of the temporalities, K. p. 330. 

Espicurnantia. The office of Spigurnel or sealer of the king's 
writs. Spigurnellus, which word Spelman and Du Fresne recite 
without interpreting. It seems detorted from the Sax. Spannan, 
to shut up, to seal, or to secure : whence the Spar of any mineral, 
L e. the outward coat that involves or shuts up the oar. The Spar 
of a door, i. e. the bolt. To Spar a door in the North is to shut 
the door. Spars and Sparables are nails to enclose and shut up, 
&c. The monks of Rochester were to allow a set quantity of pro- 
visions to the king's Spigurnels at their coming to that city. — Pro 
ista autem provisione et concessione debent prior et conventus Roffen- 
sis ubicunque dominus rex fuerit quieti esse pro cera ad sigillum. 
Spelman, in voce Spigurnellus. Oliver de Standford in 2J Edw. I. 
held lands in Netlebed, com. Oxon. per serjeantiam espicurnantice 
in cancellaria domini regis, K. p 292. 

Essoin. Fr. Essoigne, Lat. Essonivm, Exonium. From the 
old Lat. Sunnis, an impediment, let, or hindrance. When a per- 
son was cited to appear and answer in any court, upon any just 
cause or reason of absenting, he was allowed to alledge his Essoin 
or excuse, and if the pretence were just and well approved by the 
court, he had his Essoin or respite of longer time. Essonium de 
malo lecti was in case of sickness of the party summoned, which 
sickness was to be attested in open court four days successively, 
when the judges might appoint four knights to attend the sick per- 
son, and see him depute a proctor or attorney to appear for him. 
But this excuse was not allowed to the proctors or attornies them- 
selves, because one deputy could not depute another, K. p. 108. 
Essoin was granted on a non-suit, and the parties suffered them- 
selves to be non-suited to gain this respite. Predictus Johannes 
fecit se esse non versus prevdictum priorem de prcedicto placito, et 
habuit diem per essonium suum ad hunc diem, K p. 414. — Et prce- 
dictus Johannes tunc fecit se essoniari de servitio domini regis et 
habuit inde diem per essonium suum hie usque a die Paschatis in 
nv.dies, K. p. 471. 

Estregbords. Eastern-boards or deal-boards brought from the 
eastern parts for wainscote and other uses. — Et in sex estregbords , 
viz. waynscots emptis apud Steresbrugge W.sol. Yu.den. K. p. 575. 

Evenyngs. The delivery at even or night of a certain portion 
of grass or corn to a custumary tenant, who performs his wonted 
service of mowing or reaping for his lord, and at the end of his 
day's work receives such a quantity of the grass or corn to carry 
home with him as a gratuity or encouragement of his bounden 

f2 



68 GLOSSARY. 

service. So in the man nor of Burcester, — virgala terrce Integra 
ejusdem tenurce habebit liberam ad vesperas qiice vocatur Evenyngs 
tantam. sicut falcator potest per falcem levare et domum por tare per 
ipsam, K. p. 401. This gave occasion to the present corrupt and 
shameful practise of day-labourers in felling and faggoting of wood, 
who at every evening carry home with them a burden of wood, as 
great as they are able to bear, though it be no part of their wages 
or covenanted hire. Now servile tenures and custumary services 
are extinct, this practise of labourers carrying home a load or 
bundle is no better than pure theft, and ought in all honour and 
justice to be punisht and reformed. 

Ex actio secularis. Any sort of tax or imposition paid by feu- 
datory and servile tenants, from all which the freeholders within 
the honor of Walingford were exempted by special privilege, — 
Ut quieti sint ab omni consuetudine et exactione secularly K. p. 114. 

Excommunicatum capias, or a writ de excommunicato capiendo. 
A precept directed to the sheriff from the court of Chancery for the 
apprehension of a person who has stood obstinately e communicate 
for fourty days. — Robert de Pidington and others imprisoned for 
such contempt of ecclesiastical authority,, were at the request of 
the arch-bishop of Canterbury released to prosecute their appeal to 
Rome, K. p. 352. 

Exercitus bestiarum. A herd or drove of deer or other forest 
game. — llle locus est magis et maximns exercitus bestiarum totius 
fores tee, K. p. 249. 

Exhibitio. An allowance for meat and drink, such as the re- 
ligious appropriators made to the poor depending vicar So in all 
churches appropriated to the abby of Oseney, Vicarius habebit 
svfficientem exhibitionem sicut canonici quoad victualia in mensa ca- 
nonicorum ubi canonici moram faciunt, K. p. 304. 

Explicia, Expletia, Expleta. The rents or intermediate pro- 
fits of an estate in trust. — Capiendo inde explicia ad valentiam 
quinque solidorum et amplius, K. p. 414. 

Extenta. The survey and valuation of an estate made upon 
inquisition or the oaths of a jury, impanelled by the sheriff by 
vertue of the king s precept. — Extenta terrarum et tenementorum 
quae fuerunt domini Johannis Jilii Nigelli defuncti in villa de Bor- 
stal!, com. Bucks, facta ibidem, K. p 314. Extenta manerii de 
Ambrosden per duodecim juratores, an. 28 Edw. I. K. p. 681. 

Extracta Curice. The profits of holding a court arising from 
the custumary dues, fees, and amercements, — Computant de tribus 
denariis receptis de extractis unius curice ten tee apud Burcester, 
K. p. 572. 

Eyte. A low wet place or little island, called in some old 



GLOSSARY. 69 

writings an Eight, which Skinner would have to be a contraction 
of Islet, i. e. a small island. But the word bears more immediate 
relation to the Sax. Gage, Lat Eia, an island, which in termi- 
nations is Ey, the present Islandick appellative for an island ; 
which syllable ends the name of very many of our little islands, as 
Eley, Shepey, Pevensey, Ramsey, &c. Hence an Eylet, and 
Eylet- or {let-hole. The French in Du Fresne's opinion have 
hence borrowed their Eau, water, and possibly the Irish Ait, a 
place. — Duas placias prati qucejacent prope Thamisiam quce vocan- 
tur Porters- Eyte, K. p. 295. So the low mershy tract that lies by 
the river in Blackthorn, within the parish of Ambrosden, is now 
called Blackthora-Eyte. 



Falgare prata. To cut or mow down grass in meadows 
hayned or laid in for hay : a custumary service done for the lord 
by his inferiour tenants. — Homines de Hedingdon per duos dies prata 
domini falcabunt, tertio vero die herbam ibi falcatam vertent, 
K. p. 320. Falcatura una was the service of one time mowing 
or cutting grass in the demesne meadows of the lord. Tenet in 
bondagio, et debet unam falcaturam per dimidium. diem. ib. Fal- 
cata was the grass fresh mowed and laid in swathes. — Ipse Rober- 
tus et omnes alii custumarii domince liberam falcatam in prato vocato 
Gilberdesham sine prandio debent tornare, et inde fcenum levare, et 
mulliones inde facer e, K. p. 401. The custumary mower had the 
liberty of carrying away with him at night a bundle of hay, as 
much as he could take up and carry off with his sithe. In manerio 
de Pedinton — quilibet fakator habebit ad vesperam singulis diebus 
quamdiu fakabit fasciculum fceni quantum potest capere sursum 
cum fake sua sine auxilio aliorum, K. p. 496. This liberty was 
legal, when custom or compact settled it on servile tenants; but 
in our present labourers who have their full days wages, for them 
to carry home wood or any other materials whereon they work, 
is no better than an open theft, which is certainly a sin for the 
hireling to commit, and as certainly a shame for the master to con- 
nive at. 

Falmotum, Fakhesmota, Folkesmote, Folkmote. From Sax. 
Folc, people, and Mote or gemote, a convention or assembly. 
So as the Folkmot was a popular convention of all the inhabitants 
of a city or town called a Burgmote, or of all the free tenants 
within a county called the Schiremo.te. Which solemn assembly 
in boroughs or towns upon extraordinary occasions, was to be con- 
vened by sound of bell called the Motbell. In the county Folk;- 



70 GLOSSARY. 

mote, all knights and free tenants did their fealty to the king, and 
elected the annual sheriff on Octob. 1, till this popular election 
was devolved to the king's nomination, an. 1315, 9 Edw. II. after 
which the city Folkmote was swallowed up in the common council, 
and the county Folkmote in the sheriff's turn and assises. The 
word Folkmote was sometimes of a less extent, and applied to any 
populous meeting, as of all tenants to the court leet or baron of 
their lord So to a charter of Wido de Meriton about 10 Hen. II. 
Testes donationis sunt Fulco sacerdos de Meriton, Luvellus de Hor- 
spath, et totum falmotum meorum hominum et suorum, K. p. 120. 
Some remains of the word Mote and Gemote are in the Moot- 
house or council chamber in some towns. Moot-hall, Moot-case, 
Mooting, &c. 

Fannatio. The Fawning of does, or casting their young 
Fawns. From the Fr. Faon, a little kid, which Menagius deduces 
from the Gall. Fan, a child. Whence Pierce Ploughman, f. 37, 
uses the word Fauntekyns for little children. — " And confirmyn 
Fauntekyns." And to this seems owing the western term to Fang 
for a child, i. e. to be god- father or god-mother to that child : or 
in Somersetshire by the usual melting of F into V, to Vang, as He 
Vanged to me at the Vont. To the same original we may ascribe 
the word Fangles or Tangles, properly the baubles or play things 
of children that are proud to be new Fangled. From the Fr. Faon 
Du Fresne deduces the ilesh Faoneson, venison, which in the 
Forest Charter of Rich. I. is called Foinesun. Tempus vel mensis 
fannationis, was the Fawning or the fence month, fifteen days 
before Midsummer and fifteen after : when great care was taken 
that no disturbance should be given to the does or to their young. 
— Accederent ad malefaciendum tarn tempore fannationis quam alio 
tempore, K. p. 24g. — Tenentes de Brehull, Borstall, el Okie infra 
forestam prcpdicti manerii habent communem pasturam omnium 
averiorum — omnibus temporibus eis placentibus, prceter cum capris 
lidentibus, et porcis cetatis unius anni in mense fannationis, vide- 
licet quindecim ante festum Nativitatis S.Johannis Baptistce et quin- 
decim post, K. p. 502. 

Felonia, Felonum bona. Felons' goods due to the king, and 
by him granted to the lords of mannors, he— Cum messuagiis, 
gardinis, cedificiis, feloniis, eschaetis, &c. K p. 412. The learned 
Spelman deduces the word Felon from Sax. Faelen and Felen, Teu- 
ton. Faelen, to Fail or offend. Or otherwise from Sax. Feh or 
yeah, Fee or estate, and German Lon, value or price : as if Felony 
were the trespass of a vassal against his lord, to be punished by the 
loss of his fee, or the mulct of his whole estate. For all those of- 
fences which now come under the name of Felony, had pecuniary 



GLOSSARY. 71 

mulcts or weres and weregilds imposed on the committers, till 
King Henry I. an 1108, inflicted death on thieves, and several 
statutes have since declared what crimes shall fall under the name 
and penalties of Felony. Hence the old Fellown and Fell cruel. 
Felo de se, a self murderer. To Feal in the North is to hide any 
thing surreptitiously gotten : as jn the prov. He that feals can find. 
Our word Fellow seems to have had the worst sense of an asso- 
ciate in felony, which sense is still preserved in the proverb, Ask 
your fellow whither you be a thief. 

Fkodum, Feudum. Any Fee, benefit, or profit. Sax. Feo, j:ea, 
jeoh : stipend, gratituities, and other perquisites of any place or 
office. - Johannes flius Nigelli hahet in bosco domini regis housbote 
et hey bote cum omnibus feodis for estario per tinentibus secundum assi- 
samforestce, K. p. 266. — Mandamus quod Henrico de Lacy, com. 
Line, facialis habere feodum suum quod per cipere debet, et anteces- 
sors sui in com. Line, percipere consueverunt ad Scaccarium, 
K. p. 289, Feoda sometimes implied all the dues of scutage and 
other taxes in military service. Qualiter extincta sunt feoda domi~ 
ni abbatis quce ab ipso petita sunt patebit inferius, K. p. 305. 
Feodum habere, to have or enjoy all the custumary rights and pro- 
fits of an office. As John Fitz- Nigel forestar of Bernwode — 
debet habere feodum in bosco domini regis videlicet attachiamentum 
de spinis de bosco suo, K. p. 209. 

Feodum Militis vel militare. A knight's fee, which by vulgar 
computation contained 480 acres, as 24 acres made a virgate, four 
virgates one hide, and five hides one knight's fee, for which the 
common relief was one hundred shillings. Yet no doubt the di- 
mension was uncertain, and differed with times and places. In 
3 King Sleph. at Ottendon, com. Oxon. five virgates made the 
fourth part of a knight's fee, K. p 93. 

Feodum Laicum. A Lay-Fee, or land held in fee by a lay- 
man, in opposition to the tenure of Frank- Almoigne in religious 
houses. — Abbas de Egnesham — pro habenda recogniiione utrum 
duce carucatce terrce — sint laicum feodum Thomce de S. Walerico, 
vel libera eleemosina per linens ad abbatiam suam, K. p. 168. 

Feodary, Feodatarius. The seneschal or prime steward, who 
received the custumary fees of the lord, aids, reliefs, heriots, &c. 
An. 24 Hen. VI. " Robert Power, feodary of my lord the duke of 
Bokyngham, hath reseyved of Edmund Rede esquire xxvs. for a 
relyf, and vs. for a tenable eyde to the marriage of the heidyst 
daughter of my seyd lord for the fourth part of a knight's fee in 
Adyngrave," K. p. 655. 

Feoffamentum. A Feoffment, or title by which a person is 
possest of an estate in fee to himself and his heirs. JDe antiquo 



72 GLOSSARY. 

stu vete^i feoffamento was the tenure of lands held from the crown 
before the reign of Hen. II. and those lands in which the owners 
were afterwards enfeoffed, were called De novo feoffamento. So 
Richard de Camvil in 1 1 Hen. II. held the mannor of Middleton 
as one knight's fee, De antiquo feoffamento, K. p 121. An. 13, 
Hen. II. Henry de Oily held thirty-two knight's fees and a half of 
the old feoffment, and the twentieth part of a fee of the new 
feoffment, K. p. 125. 

Feoffare aliquem in terns. To enfeoff a person or persons in 
an estate, as feoffees in trust, for a legal method of insuring or con- 
veying the said estate to such persons or uses. — Edwardus Rex, &c. 
Licentiam dedimus Johanni Jilio Nigelli quod de iis quce de nobis 
tenet in capite feoffare possit Robertum de Harwedon, et ipsi Ro- 
berto ut dare possit et concedere, &c. K. p. 338. 

Ferine. Fairs, Sax. Faegenr, at first occasioned by the resort of 
people to the feast or dedication, and therefore in most places the 
fairs (by old custom, not by novel grant) are on the same day with 
the wake, or the festival of that saint to whom the church was 
dedicated, K. p. 6l 1. And therefore kept often in church-yards, 
till by authority restrained, K. p. 613. From the solemn feasting 
at wakes and fairs, came the word Fare, provision, good fare : to 
fare well : Farly things, i. e. fine and curious things : Far ant and 
farantly in the North, specious and handsome, as prov. Fair and 
Farantly. So far and in composition for a jolly festival humour, 
as prov. He is in a fighting-farand, i. e. He is flustred and in a 
fighting humour. And children when they are pert and witty 
beyond their years are said to be Aud-farand. And in our lan- 
guage those persons who got a high colour zy eating and drinking, 
were said to have a red fare, as we say a red face. 

Fictio. Old Eng. Feintise, fraud or deceit : whence feign t, 
faint, i. e. false arid deluding, as in old law terms a Faint action, a 
Faint pleading, &c. Absque fictione, without falshood or knavery, 
— Qui carucas habuerunt arabunt terram domini in dicto manerio 
eodem modo et in tantum quo terram propriam absque fictione arare 
deberent, K. p. 320. 

Firma. A Farm or land and tenements hired at a certain rent. 
From Sax. Feopm, meat or entertainment ; Feojiman, to feast or 
entertain. Whence Lat. Firma, for the reception and entertain- 
ment of the king, or any other lord and his retinue : as frequently 
in Doomsday book, a condition of tenure was pro firma per unum 
diem, or pro firma unius noctis. Whence firma signified the rent 
and profits of an estate, because in the Saxon and part of the 
Norman times, the rent of lands was paid in provisions, especially 
to the king, till Hen. II. for better conveniency altered the custom 



GLOSSARY. 73 

into an equivalent of mony, which pecuniary rent was still called 
Firma Regis. So Henry de Essex sheriff of Bucks. 4 Hen. II. 
eomputavit de \xs. de firma regis in Brehul, K. p. 114. Simon 
Fitz-Peter sheriff of Bucks. 5 Hen. II. accounted for lii/. xis. \\d. 
de veteri Jirma in Bruhella, K- p. 115. From the Sax. Feonm 
Fr. Junius does thus ingeniously and evidently derive the diet of 
sodden wheat called Furmetie and Frometie, — Vulgus Anglorum 
nusquam [quod sciam) frumentie (quasi a frumento) sed receptis- 
sima ubique consuetudine frometie dicat, plane statuendum videtur 
cibum hunc propria voce primitus feonmetie dictum a jeojime quod 
prima sua acceptations olim denotabat edulia omnia ad victum ne- 
cessaria : peopman est victum prcebere. Ah hoc igitur jreonme 
veteribus jzeojmiene dictus videtur cibus quern prcedia rustica fa- 
cillime uberrimeque suppeditabant ad hospites prandio ccenave exci- 
piendos. And possibly to this original is owing the French Fro- 
mage, cheese ; and the Irish Flummerie, made of oatmeal. 

Ad Fjrmam dare. To Firm-let, or to let out for a reserved rent. 
Gilbert Basset concludes his foundation charter to the priory of 
Burcester — Prcedicti canonici supradictas ecclesias vel possessions 
non debent dare vel pro alia ecclesia vel aliis possessionibus commu- 
tare, neque ad fir mam dare, K. p. 135. Ad fir mam perpetuam 
credere, to let by copy-hold of inheritance at a stated quit rent and 
other reserves, — Abbas et conventus Glocester. crediderint ad per- 
petuam fir mam omnes decimationes, &c. K. p. 223. Idem p. 344., 
349. Adfirmam tenere, to hold a farm : so Robert Fitz-Simon of 
Meriton gives the Knights Templars ires acras terra? in manerio 
de Meriton, quas acras Nicholaus Roc aliquando tenuit de me ad 
firmam, K. p. 138. Firmam redder e, to pay a covenanted rent. 
King John let out his mannor of Brehul to Walter Borstardj— 
Reddendo inde annuatim an tiquam firmam, et de incremento xls. 
pro omni servitio, K. p. 194. Tenere pro hac aut ilia firma, to 
hold for this or that rent. Hugo de Plesseys concedit pro se et hoe- 
redibus suis, quod omnes homines teneant terras suas in eodem ma- 
nerio pro eadem firma per quam eas prius tenere consueverunt, 
K. p. 319. Afifirmatus, Farmed out or let for a certain rent, — 
Item de burgo ajfirmato xxiii /. — Item de hundreto ajfirmato ix/. 
K. p. 354. 

Firmarius. A Farmer, or he that firmed or rented an estate, 
the tenant or occupier of it. — Nigello Travers tuncfirmario de Bre- 
hul, K. p. 300. Si tamen hujusmodi clausurce in manibus tenen- 
tium seu firmarioruvi extiterint, K. p. 60p. 

Firmare. To fortifie, — Licentiam dedimus Johanni de Handlo 
quod ipse mansum suum de Borstall juxta Brehull in com. Buck. 
muro de petra et cake firmare et kernellare possit, K. p. 363 f 



74 GLOSSARY. 

Flesche-Axe. A cleaver with which butchers cut out their 
meat. — Et in magna secure vocata flesch-axe xv. den. K. p. 575. 
Flesh from Sax. Flsejc, or more commonlyjrlaec, which was not so 
properly the flesh of a living creature, as of a dead one when the 
skin was stript off. Whence to Flea or to Fleak, i. e. to pull off 
the skin. A school phrase, to be fleakt off, i. e. to have the skin 
fetcht off by whipping. A Flake is properly a piece of skin tore 
off the flesh, whence by metaphor a Flake of snow. Flaks or 
Flags in Norfolk are the turfs which they pare off from the surface 
of the earth. A Fleak in the North is a hurdle made of twigs that 
are shaved or stript of their rind. Fleaky, Flaggy, Flabby, is feel- 
ing soft like flesh. A Fleck is properly a sore in the flesh from 
whence the skin is rubbed off: whence by metaphor they use in 
Lincolnshire the word Flecked for spotted. 

Focalia. Fuel, fire- wood. The prior and canons of Burcester 
allowed the vicar, — quatuor bigatas lignorum profocalibus de siiva 
prions vocata Priors ivood, K. p. 670. 

Foenum vertere. To turn grass or hay, K. p. 321. Foenum 
tornare, to turn grass or hay, K. p. 401. Foenum levare, to make 
hay, K. p. 321. Foenum cariare, to carry in hay, K. p, 321. 
Foeni mulliones facer e, to make hay into cocks or pouts, K. p. 401. 

Foragium. Forage or fodder for horse or other cattle. Fr. 
Forage, Forrage. Lat. Fodrum, Foderum, from Sax. Fobne, 
Island. Foodur, German Futter. Whence to Fodder cattle, i. e, 
to give them food or fodder : and by metaphor to Fodder a room, 
i. e. to throw things loose about it. To keep a Fodder or Fudder, 
i. e. to fling or scatter about. — The prior and canons of St. Frides- 
wide gave to tne vicar of Oakle duo quarteria frumenti pro 
prebenda equi sui t et decimam foeni de Lathmede pro foragia, 
K. p. 455. 

Forera, Forreria. A Foreland or Foreness, formerly called a 
Heavod-land, now a Head-land, or that part in a field whose end 
lies abutting on the side of another land. — Fuit seisitus in manerio 
domini de una forreria in Alchester, K. p. 469. Hence our Fur- 
row from Sax. Fynian, to plough : and possibly to this we owe 
the old word to Fure, to go, as prov. Whither fured you ? i. c. 
Whither went you? (or rather to the Sax. Fapan.) And the 
Fourm of a hare, and a Form or seat. 

Forestarius. Forestar, or keeper of a forest, assigned by the 
king, or employed by knights and barons, who had lands and 
woods within the bounds of a forest — Rex prcecipit quod omnes 
illi qui boscos habent intra metas forestce domini regis, quod ponant 
idoneos fores tarios in boscis suis, K. p. 174. Item prcecipit quod 
sui forestarii curam capiant super forestarios militum et alio- 



GLOSSARY. 75 

rum, K. p. 174. No sale or waste to be made of the woods 
within the precincts of a forest without the view or livery of the 
Forestar, — Boscus de Ernicote et loscus de Pydington fuerint affo~ 
restati post coronationem domini Henrici regis proavi domini regis 
nunc ad tale dampnum, quod nee ipsi nee eorum antecessores seu 
prcedecessores per tempus prcedictum usque nunc nichil de boscis 
prcedictis capere potuerant, nisi per liberationem forestarii et ejus 
forestariorum voluntatem, K. p. 370. 

Forinsecus. Outward or on the out side, — Excepto uno selione 
forinseco illius croftce versus austrum adfaciendam quandam viam, 
i. e. the outward ride or furrow for a common path. 

Forinsecum seruitium. The payment of aid, scutage, and all 
other custumary burdens of military service. — Salvo forinseco ser- 
vitio dominorum, K, p. 229. — Salvo forinseco serviiio quantum per- 
tinet ad dimidiam virgatam terrce, K. p. 230. — Salvo mihi et hce- 
redibus meis forinseco serviiio debito et consueto, K. p. 235. — Pro 
omnibus servitiis forinsecis, et intrinsecis curiarum sectis et omnibus 
secularisms demandis, K. p. 345. 

Forinsecum Manerium. That part of a mannor which lies 
without the burg or town. — Summa reddituum assisorum de ma- 
nerio forinseco Banbury cum molendinis forinsecis. — Item de mo- 
lendinis in Banbury, K. p. 354. 

Forschet, Forescheta. From Sax. Fop, before, and Sceat, a 
part or portion. The outer or fore-part of a furlong that lies 
toward the high way, to the quantity of about half an acre. — Una 
acra et dimidia videlicet for eschet jacent ibidem., K. p. 531.—Partim 
inter Goldw ell-furlong, et partim inter unam foreschet in Bus- 
thames-furlong, K. p. 532. — Hcec pecia terrce prions vocalur He- 
ralds-pece, et habet unam forschetam jacentem proxime juxta pros- 
dictam meram, K. p. 535. — Inter unam forschetam quam Hugo 
Bylendon tenet, K. p. 537. — htce tres dimidice acres sunt fore- 
schets et incipiunt furlong de Long-Cutteszvurth, K. p. 538. — Hoc 
furlung incipit cum una forescheta, ibid. As Forschet was a slip 
or small piece of land : so Ftrschet was the custumary payment for 
passage over a river, from Faep, a journey or passage, 6ie, water, 
and Sceat, a scot or tax, or equal part of payment. Whence a 
Ferrie or Ferry cross a river, Ferry-boat, for which passengers pay 
their fare. A fellow passenger was called a Fere. 

Fossatorum operatio. The service of work and labour done 
by inhabitants and adjoining tenants for repair and maintenance of 
the ditches round a city or town : for which some paid a contri- 
bution called Fossagium. An exemption from this duty was some- 
time granted by special privilege. So King Hen. II. to the te- 



/6 GLOSSARY. 

nants within the honor of Walingford, — Ut quieti sint de operatt* 
onibus castellorum, et wurorum, et fossatorum. K. p. 114. 

Franciplegium. Visus Franciplegii. From the Fr. Frank, 
free, and plege, a surety. The ancient custom for the free men of 
England at fourteen years of age to find surety for their truth and 
fidelity to the king, and good behaviour to their fellow subjects. 
This surety among the SaAons was taken in their Friborg or Tith- 
ing-court or La}?, (which word Lath is still preserved in the court: 
of bayliff and jurates of Romney-marsh convened at Dimchurch 
in Kent,) After the coming in of the Normans the custom was 
by them called Frank-plege, and was continued in the court- leet 
of royal jurisdiction, to be held annually on the feast of St. Michael 
by Magna Charta, cap. 36. So that habere visum franciplegii, to 
have the view of Frank-pledge, was no more than to have the pri- 
vilege of holding a court-leet, the power of which was determined 
by the stat. 8 Edw. II. and 1 Edw. III. — This liberty granted to 
religious houses as the pertinence of such a mannor. Ecclesia S. 
Georgii data fuit fratribus Osen. et habet ibidem visum franciplegii, 
et totum regale servitium, K. p. 60. — Richard earl of Cornwall 
granted to the abby of Oseney, Franciplegium de tota villa de Mix* 
lury, K. p. 211. A right inherent in the crown, and to be con- 
veyed to a subject only by espress charter. Johannes flius Nigelli 
sen. summonitus fuit ad respondendum domino regi de placito quo 
waranto clamat habere visum Franciplegii de tenentibus suis in 
Borstall, qui ad dominum regem et curonam suam pertinet. — J&- 
hannes dixit quod ipse et antecessores sui a tempore quo non extai 
memoria extiterunt seisiti de prcedicto visu, et quod ita sit petit quod 
inquiratur. — Et Gilbertus de Thornton qui sequitur pro rege dicit 
quod Franciplegium est qucedam libertas regia mere spectans ad co- 
ronam et dignitatem domini regis contra quam longa seisina valere 
non debet, unde petit judicium, K. p. 313. View of frankpledge 
to be held once a year, by the lord's bayliff or steward. Ballivi 
comitis Gloucest. venlent quolibet anno ad tenendum visum Franci- 
plegii in eodem manerio, K. p. 31 9. — Ad visum suum tenendum 
prout mos singulis annis existit, IC. p, 331. At such court, 
twelve-pence was in some places levied by the steward in full of 
all dues. So at Knyttinton, com. Berc. Seneschallus honoris S 9 
Walerici tenuit unum visum per annum levando de eadem villata 
xii. denarios de recto visu pro omniius> K. p 333. The place of 
holding such court was on some open green, except in rainy 
weather, when it was adjourned to the mannor-house,or the house 
of any tenant. Fuit locus tenendi visum ibidem in quadam viridi 
placea in villa de Knyttinton, — et in tempore pluvioso per licentiam 



GLOSSARY. 77 

ballwi prioris aliquando seneschallus tenuit visum ibidem in curia 
prioris, et aliquando in domibus aliorum tenentium, ib. 

Frayle of figs. A basket in which figs are brought from 
Spain and other parts. Minshew derives the word from Lat. 
Fragilis. Skinner from the Italian Fragli, the knots and folding 
of the flags with which it is made. No doubt the name is owing 
to the language of that place from whence they are brought. — 
Et in unojrayle fir.uum Hi. sol. iv.den. K. p. 3?5. 

Fratres Jurati. Fid. Sworn-brothers. 

Frumentum. Bread corn or wheat opposed to all other 
grain. — Tria quarteria frumenti, tria quarteria avenarum, £sV. 
K. p 291. — The canons of St. Frideswide allowed the vicar of 
Oakle, quinque quarteria frumenti, et quinque quarteria ordei, 
K. p. 455. 

Fryttyng of wheels. Perhaps what we now call the Rinding 
of wheels, i. e. fitting and fastning the fellows, (or pieces of wood 
that conjointly make the circle) upon the spokes, which on the 
top are let into the fellows, and at the bottom into the hub. — In 
solutis pro fryttynge quinque rotarum hoc anno vii den. K. p. 574. 

Fundator. Founder of a religious house. This title was not 
only given to the first actual founders, but continued to those 
barons and knights who held the fee of the estates given to those 
monasteries, and were the patrons of them, K. p. 60. And if 
after the extinction or long intermission of this title, any person 
could prove his direct descent from the prime founder, he was as- 
sumed by the religious to the name and honour of their founder. 
So the convent of Augustine friers at Oxford, — Edmundum Rede 
et hceredes suos in fundatorem dictce domus suscepimw; ac adrnisi- 
mus de jure sibi adquisito ex proof ato lineali descensu, K. p. 637. 
And accordingly received him with solemn procession, ib. 

Furca. A Fork to gather up and pitch hay and straw ; called 
in old Eng. a Gib, whence the Furca, gallows, Sax. Galga, was 
called a Gibbet. A nut hook in the North is a Gibbon. A quarter- 
staff is a Gib-stafF. And in Sussex a Gibbet is any great cudgel 
which they throw up in trees to beat down the fruit. A hanging- 
coat that was cast over the shoulders, and hung down with two 
long sleeves, was called a Gipe and a Gippo, and Gippon. The 
Furca in the Roman agriculture was the twist or forked piece of 
wood, which they set under the rods or fore-part of the plaustrum 
to bear it up, which in the North they now call a Nape or Neap. 
— Furcare carectam, was I suppose to hang a waggon, or to fit the 
body of it to hang upon the axel and wheels. — Allocantur eisdem 
pro Richardo Plumbario furcante carectam per xii. dies. \\\s. — et pro 
Johanne Bowdon furcante carectam per unumdiem 'i\\d. K. p. 550. 



78 GLOSSARY. 

Furendellus, Fardella, Ferlingus. A Fardingel, Farundel, 
or Ferling of land, i. e. the fourth part of an acre, which in Wilt- 
shire is now called a Fardingale : and in other parts a Farthindale, 
from Sax. FeojvS, fourth, and Dei or beal, a part. Whence a 
farthing or fourth part of a penny. And in the north a Furendel 
or Frundel of corn is two gawns or gallons, i. e. the fourth part of a 
bushel. — Hugh Richards of Borstall granted to John de Handlo— • 
unum furendellura prati in Bradmoor, K. p. 339. Which fourth 
part of an acre is in the east riding of Yorkshire called a Stang. 

Furnus. An oven. — Johannes le Baker et Christina uxor ejus 
tenent c/uatuor domos cum curtilagiis et unum furnum cum secta 
custumaria ad eundem t i.e. one publick oven in a common baking- 
house, with the custumary profits of it. For the tenants were 
formerly obliged as to grind their corn at such a mill, so to bake 
their bread at such an oven, and to pay furnagium, Furnage, or 
such a custom for baking, as toll for grinding. The word Furnus 
is now translated from an oven to a Furnace. 

G. 

Gabalum, Galulum, Galium. From Goth. PlK/1 A. Island, 
Gall y German Geehvel, Dutch Gevel, Eng. Gavell and Gabell, the 
head or end or extreme part of a house or building. As the Gable- 
head, the Gavle-end. — Quandam particulam terrce— extra gallum 
molendini octo pedes in latitudine, K. p. 201. — Quce domus sita est 
inter galulam tenementi mei et galulam tenementi Laurentii Kepe- 
harm, K. p 286. — Quod situm est inter messuagium quod Ro- 
bertus le Webb aiiquando tenuity et gallam capitalis messuagii quod 
H. Holer aiiquando tenuit, K. p. 395. Hence a wide galling room. 

Gallus silvestris. A woodcock. — Et in octo gallis silvestrilus 
emptis et datls domino Lestraunge ad Octal. Epiphanice JAi.den. 
K. p. 578. 

Gallis, Galls. From Sax. Gealla, German and Island. Gall. 
— In solutis suppriori pro coprose et gally s emptis pro encausto ii. den. 
K. p. 574. 

Gappe A breach or Gap in a hedge. — Alia roda jacet ad in? 
ferius capud del Oldedich juxta le Gappe, K. p. 397. From Sax. 
Geapan, to open or to Gape, Dan. Galer. Whence our Eng. to 
Gabber, i. e. to open the mouth without articulate sound. Thence 
Goth. Gaepstock, in the northern English a Gobstick, a spoon. 
To Gobble, to open the mouth wide and swallow greedily any gob, 
or goblet, or gobbet. 

Garba. A sheaf of corn, of which twenty-four made a thrave. 
From Fr. Gerle and Garb. — Posito ad caput ejus frumenti mani- 



GLOSSARY. f9 

pulo quern patria lingua Seaf (alias Sceaf) dicimus, Galilee vero 
Gar bam. Mat. West. p. 1 66. It extended to a cock of hay, a fag- 
got of wood, or any other bundle of the fruits or product of the 
earth. Manasser Arsic baron of Coges gave to the priory at Coges 
two garbs of tithe at Fritwell, while the third garb was only paid 
to the parish priest, K. p. 81. Which two garbs were resigned 
by the prior of Coges to the prior of St. Frideswide, in considera- 
tion of two shillings yearly rent, K. p. 123. — Custumarius domin<s 
in autumpno, si sit ligator, ad dictas precarias habebit unarn gar bam 
seminis de ultimo blado ligato> — Et quoties ligator habet prandium, 
non habebit garbam., K. p. 401. Within the mannor of Piding- 
ton,—/}* autumpno qui operantur super proprium custum, omnes et 
singuli ligatores herbarum habebunt unarn garbam ad vesperam, 
K. p. 496. Hence a Gerbe in heraldry. Garbage, any collection, 
especially of filth, as guts and Garbage. The dust and sullageof 
drugs and spices is called the Garbles in stat. 21 Sac. I. cap. 19. 
The officer whose duty it was to Garble spices or to separate the 
dregs and refuse, is called the Garbler of spices, 21 Jac. I. cap. 9. 
And the Garbling of bow-staves was choosing out the best, and 
throwing aside those which were of no use or service, stat. 1 
Rich. III. cap. 11. And possibly from hence by metaphor the 
choicest garment was called a Garb, from which the person was 
said to be in a neat or handsome garb. What we call a sheaf of 
arrows, was formerly a Garb of arrows, which by the laws of 
Rob. I. king of Scotland, was to consist of twenty four arrows. 

Garcio. Any poor young servile lad or boy-servant. Fr. 
Garcon. It seems of old Gallick or British original j for in the 
present Irish Garsun is an appellative for any servant. In all the 
churches appropriated to the abby of Oseney, — Canonici vicario 
clericum invenient — et ipsi vicario similiter Garconem invenient 
ipsius obsequio deputatum, quos in omnibus suis expensis procura- 
lunt, K. p. 304. — Et in datis Willielmo Skynner garconi de pi- 
strina ex curialitate falcatorum per x. dies \\\. den. K. p. 576. — 
Et in solutis Thomce Takkele adducenti quendam garconem nuper 
scrvientem Johannis Grene ad castrum Oxon. in ebdomeda Natalis 
Domini, quia convenit servire priori, et non implevit, K. p. byj . 

Geld. Any tax or imposition. From Goth. FXAcX., Sax. 
Gelb, German Gelt. In the North they still call the rate paid for 
the agistment of cattle Nowt-geld or Neot-geld. The mint-master 
of Walingford had his house free from Geld, while he coined 
mony, K. p. 54. Whence Lat. Geldare, Sax. Gelban, to pay 
taxes: whence by liquefaction to Yield or pay. To Gelt or extort 
a man's mony from him : and possibly by metaphor to Geld or 
castrate. — Quietum esse a geldis was a special privilege. So King 



80 GLOSSARY. 

Hen. II. granted to the tenants within the honor of Walingford, 
— ut quieti sint de geldis et danegeldis, K. p. 114. Hence the 
Lat. Gilda, Eng. Gild, a fraternity or society, who Gelded or paid 
all publick charges out of a common stock, and were called 
Gildones and Congildones, and made their Gilden or publick feast 
in a Gild-hall or Guild-hall : of which Jchn Bale in his Preface to 
the Journey of Johan Leland, 12 ma an. 15QQ, writes thus : " This 
most worthy commodyte of your countrey, I mean the conserva- 
cyon of your antiquytees, and of the worthy labours of your 
lerned men. I thynke the renown of such a notable acte wolde 
have much longer endured than of all your belly banketts and 
table triumphes, either yet out of your newly purchased baules to 
kepe S. Georges feste, i. e. Gylde-hawles." 

Gersuma, Guersuma. Sax. Geanjuma, which Mr. Somner 
derives from the old Sax. Geano, ready, and Sum or rome, as if 
ready mony. Gersum signified any expence or payment, but was 
commonly used for the ready mony or other valuable consideration 
paid in hand, to bind or confirm any bargain, which we call Ernest. 
— Pro hac concessione dealt dictus Richardus dims marcas argenti 
in gersumam,K. p. 125. — Pro hac mea donatione — deditmihiprce- 
dictus Johannes in gersuma quadraginta solidos sterlingorum, K .p. 
178, 194, 225, 325. 

Gore. A small narrow slip of ground. — Dues rodce jacent 
juxta viam scilicet le Gores super shotefurlong, K. p. 393. — Una 
acra et dimidia jacent simul ibidem, et vocantur quinque Gores, 
K. p. 532. — Una acra cum uno Gore, K. p. 534. The Lat. Gors, 
Eng. Gort and Guort, which occur in the Doomsday-book, are by 
Spelman interpreted a narrow part of a river, or weer for the 
catching of fish. And a Gord of water is by Gouldman explained 
to be a narrow stream of water. Hence a slip of cloth sewed into 
any garment we call a Gore, and Gorette and Gusset. The old 
Fr. and Eng. Gort, guort, and gorz, Lat. Gordus, are by Du Fresne 
deduced from Lat. Gurges, whence the French and English bor- 
row their gorge, a throat, to be Gorged or over-fed, a Gorget, to 
wear under the throat or round the neck. Gjre-bellied, fat and 
corpulent, &c. 

Grangia. A Granary or Grange : commonly taken for the 
country farm and out-houses where the religious reposited their 
corn. Ordinavimus eidem vicario nostro tresdecim quarteria bladi 
loni percipienda de grangiis prcedictce ecclesice per annum , K p. 455. 
But more properly taken for any barn with a thres/ing-floor. — In 
hebdomade proxime post festum S. Martini quilibet virgatarius 
terrce arabit domino ires rodas terrce, et etiam intrabit grangiam 
domini ad semen dictce terrce triturandum, K. p. 496. In Lincoln- 



GLOSSARY. 81 

8h!re they call every lone-house, or farm that stands alone by 
itself, a Grange. 

Gras-Hearth. The custumary service for all the inferiour 
tenants to bring their ploughs, and do one day's work for the lord 
within four days after Michaelmass. — Quando autem facient con- 
suetudines sive redditus, venient omnes carucce infra villain de Py- 
dinton ad arandam terrain domini una die quern eligere voluerit 
lallivus infra quatuor dies proxime post festum S. Michaelis per 
summonitionem hallivi vel prcepositi quod vacatur Gras« Hearth, 
K. p. 4Q6. — -In eodem m an erio— propositus erit quietus ab omni 
servitio pro labore prceter Gras-hurt, K. p. 497. Goth. PjyAS* 
Sax. Gaejir and G;:aej\ whence what we commonly call Grass is 
in some northern parts called Gers. 

Grava. Sax. Gpaejr, a Grove. — Thomas de Druesval gave to 
the abby of Egnesham, — quandam gravam juxta Epelhanger, et 
quandam insulam proximam villce de Stoches, et servitium quod 
j4dam de Wodecote fecit ei in dicta grava et insula, K. p. 329* 
Whence a Grovette or Grotte, or Giotto. 

Graven-Hill. The hill of graves or sepulture of the dead. 

Sax. Gjiaej:, a Grave, Island. Grafa, to digg, Goth. rKA^A^fj 
whence to Grub or digg up, A Gripe or Grip or ditch, which in 
Lincolnshire is called a Grove, in southern parts a Grippe and a 
Grindlet, in the North a Grupe. Hence to be Groveling on the 
ground. To Grave or cut in wood or metal or stone, A Groove 
or Grove, a furrow or deep line struck by a joiner. 

Gropys. Hooks and irons belonging to a cart or waggon. 
From Sax. Gppan, to take or hold : whence to Gripe or hold fast, 
Griping or covetous, to Grope or feel out, to Graple or fasten with 
Grapling-irons, in old Eng. Grapenels. — Et in clavis carectatis 
gropys et aliis ferramentis emptis Oxon. de Johanne Mylton yren- 
monger xii. sol, iv. den. K. p. 574. They have an iron hook 
fastned to the axis with a short chain, to hook upon a stave of the 
wheel, to keep it from turning round on the descent of a hill, which 
they call skidding of a wheel, Lat, rotam sufflaminare. 

Grossus, Conducere in Grosso, to hire a workman by the great, 
for performing such a work without computing the time. — Et 
Willielmo Hykkedon conducto in grosso ad mensam domini ad do- 
landum et perfciendum le crest super cancellum prioratus ibidem 
xxiv. sol. K. p. 5y5, Grossus denarius, a Groat. 

Guerra. Publick war or private dissension. From Sax. Gep, 
arms or weapon. — Quantum inde habuit ante guerram, et disseisu 
tus est occasione ipsius guerrce, K. p. 184. Thence to warn, i. e. 
fo challenge. 



82 GLOSSARY. 

Gula Augusti. The calends or first day of August, the fe- 
stival of St. Peter ad vinculo,. Durandus suggests a reason of the 
name from a young lady being cured on that day of a quinsie in 
her throat by kissing the chains of St. Peter. But perhaps Gula 
Augusti signified the first day of that month only, as gula was the 
mouth or entrance of any thing. As gula fiuv'ii, the mouth of a 
river, &c. Die sabbati post gulam Augusti, K. p. 228. 

Gwayf, Waif, Waivium. Such goods as felons, when pursued, 
cast down and leave in the high way, which become a forfeiture 
to the king or lord of the mannor, unless the right owner legally 
claim or challenge them within one year and a day, — Recognitum 
est militibus et lileris hominibus — quod ad nos spectat le Gwayf, 
&c. Ita et statim redditum est nobis le Gwayf le Ernicot scilicet 
ii. porci cum v. porcellis, K.p. 196. 

H. 

Habunda. Abundance, plenty. — Receptis de caseo et lutiro, 
et eo minus propter habundam casei maximam, K. p. 548. 

Ha 1 a. A Hedge, from Sax. fcegge, haeg, in Lincolnshire a 
Hack. Hence in Kent a Haw, i. e. a small close hedged in. A 
Haw-thorn, i. e. a hedge-thorn. Haws, or in the north Haghes., 
the fruit of that thorn. The Hagge or Hatch of a door. Heck 
a door in the north. The Hatches of a ship. As from the Lat. 
Haia, Hey -bote or Hedge-bote, i. e. liberty for taking wood for 
reparation of fences. A Hay or net to take conies. To dance 
the Hay, &c. Proverb in Chaucer, ' ' Nether busk nor hay," i. e. 
Neither wood nor hedge. — Terras et tenementa cum aquis haiis 
fossatis, &c. K. p. 274. Cum gardinis, curiilagiis, pratis, haiis, 
rnuris, fossatis, K. p. 389- 

Hake. A sort of fish dried and salted, called Poor- John. In 
the west parts Hakot, from Sax. fracob. A prov. in Kent, ' ' As 
dry as a Hake."— -Etin tribus copulis viridis piscis, cum uno viridi 
lynge, cum tribus congere, et cum una copula de hake, K. p. 5J5. 

Hamma. From Sax. 13am, a house. Hence what we call 
Home they term Hame in the north, and Hamely for Homely. 
To this we owe the termination of so many English places in Ham, 
as Buckingham, &c. Hence a Hamlet, a collection of houses,— 
Blakethorn quce est hamlettum in parochia de Ambresdon, K.p. 34(5. 
But as Haya was both a house, a hedge, and a close j so Ham or 
Heam had all those acceptations. It sometimes signified a hedge, 
whence to Hem in or to enclose, the Hem or outward border of a 
garment. It farther signified a small croft or enclosed meadow. — 
Quoddam pratunculum quod vocatur Hamma, K. p. 135. Qua^ 



GLOSSARY* 83 

'iuor acras prati in gorejuxta hamam Gilherti, K. p. 1J6 Dimi- 
dice acrce prati propinquioris prato nostro quod vacatur Gileberds- 
ham, K. p. 177. — quoddam pratum domini met quod vacatur Kin- 
sit h-heam, K. p. 183. Computant de sex solidis octo denariis re- 
ceptis de duolus hammys prati in campo de Wendleburg, K.p. 572. 

Hasta porci. A shield of brawn.— Jo hanna de Musegrave 
tenet terras in Blechesdon de domino rege per servitium deferendi 
domino regi unam hastam porci pret, ild. cum fugaverit in parco suo 
de Combine, K. p. 450. 

Havedelond. From Sax. "Deajrob. A Head land, now com- 
monly a Had land, whence the Head-way or Had-way. — Item una 
pecia terrce jacet ibidem cum Havedelonds, etjacet pro duabus acris 
et dimidia, K. p. 535. In superior e fine acrce S. Edburgce jacent 
quatuor brode-londs quas aUivocant Prestes-haved-londs , K.p.537» 

Hekfore. An Heifer, which in the east riding of Yorkshire is 

called a Whee or Whey, and in some midland parts a Twinter, 

i. e of two winters. And in Oxfordshire a splai'd heifer is teimed 

a Martin. — Computant de xii. denariis receptis de debi/i vitulo cu- 

jusdam hekfore vendito Johanni Grene, K p. 548. Vid Bovicula. 

Helowe-wall. The Hell-wall or end wall that covers and 
defends the rest of the building. From Sax. iDelan, to cover, 
Scotch Hele, in north Wales Hilio. Hence in the north of En- 
gland the Hylling of a bed, i. e. the bed-cloaths or covering, which 
our Oxford bed-makers call the Healings. Whence in Kent to 
Heal up a child in a cradle, or any other person in a bed : and in 
some parts to Heal a house is to cover the top. And in the West, 
the workman who covers a house with slatts or tiles, is called a 
Hellier or Healer : whence to Heal a wound, i. e. to cover it with 
skin : and by metaphor to Heal any sickness, to be Hail and 
Healthy. In some northern parts Helow or Heloe is bashfull, or 
close and reserved, with a face covered. To the same original are 
owing the Hulls, or cods, or coverings of beans, pease, &c. the 
Hulls or chaff of other corn : Helmet or covering of the head. A 
Helm in the North, i. e. a Hovel or any covered place. Possibly 
the Healm or Hawm with which they thatch or cover houses. To 
Sheal or uncover, as the Shealing of beans, pease, &c- A Shel or 
outward covering. In the North to Shel or Sheal milk is to curdle 
it, or separate the parts. Hollen in the North is a wall set before 
dwelling-houses to secure the family from the blasts of wind rush- 
ing in when the Heck or door is open : to which wall on that side 
next the hearth is annext a sconce or serene of wood or stone. — 
In solutis eidem domince pro quodam Helowe-wall unius domus apud 
Curtlyngton annuatim W.den. K. p. 573. 

Hen. Old: whence Henshaw in Cheshire is by Leland de- 
g2 



84 GLOSSARY. 

rived from Hen, old, and Shaw a wood. Henley in Oxfordshire, 
which Dr. Plot thinks to be so denominated from Hen and Lley, a 
place, being the old town of the Ancalites in the time of Julius 
Caesar, K. p. 2. So Gual-Hen, Vallum Antiquum, now Waling- 
ford in the opinion of Humph. Lluyd, K. p. 5. 

Herbagium. Herbage or grass, especially to be cut or mowed. 
Salvo mihi et hceredibus meis herbagio died stagni, et herhagio ex 
altera parte aquae, quantum aliquis homo pro profunditate aquce 
potent metere, K. p. 201. Herbagium anterius the first crop, in op- 
position to after-math. Dicunt quod est communis via, et sua com- 
munis pastura, quum foenum et anterius herbagium amoveantur, 
K. p. 459. 

Her ci are. To Harrow. Hercia, an harrow, from Herpex, 
Herpicia, contracted Hercia. — Homines manerii de Hedingdon solos 
equos hahentes terram domini ibidem herciabunt, et per duos dies 
in quadragesima similiter arabunt, et herciabunt, K. p. 320. In 
manerio de Pydinton omnes virgatarii terrce arabilis per quatuor 
dies per totum annum — venient cum uno equo et uno crate ad her* 
ciandam terrain domini quousque plene perseminetur, K. p. 4Q6. 
Et allocantur pro tribus novis cratibus emptis ad herpicandum, 
K. p. 549. Thence to Harry and Hurry, to be Harried and Hur- 
ried up and down, Harast. 

Heremitorium. A Hermitage, which signified strictly a con- 
vent of hermites, or frier minors, who under the institution and 
discipline of Fr. Paul inhabited desart and solitary places. — Johan- 
nes Stokton prior conventus Oxon. ordinis fratrum heremitarum 
Sancti Augustini, K. p. 672. But secondly, this name was attri- 
buted to any one religious cell, built and endowed in some private 
and recluse place, and then annext to some larger abby, of which 
the prelate or governour was called Heremita. So Ralph the Her- 
mite built a hermitage in a close retirement at Musewell, with a 
chappel dedicated to the Holy Cross, annext to the abby of Missen- 
den, K. p. 74. King Hen. II. gave the hermitage of Finemere, 
which was of the fee of Rowland Malet of Queinton, to the abby 
of St. Marie's Noteley in Crendon com. Buck. K. p. 118. King 
Hen. III. gave the hermitage of St. Werburg at Brehul to the 
prior and canons of Chetwode, K. p. 240. King Edw. HI. — 
Rex omnibus &c. Licentiam dedimus — Nicholao Jurdan de Bur- 
cester Heremitce custodi capellce beati Johannis Baptistce de Bur- 
cester quod ipse quoddam hospitale—apud Bur cester de novo fundare 
possit, K. p. 478. 

Heresyve. From Sax. lOaep, Island. Haar, and Sax. Sy£e, a 
Hair-sive. Et in uno heresyve empto ad pistrinam ibidem x. den* 
K. p. 574. 



GLOSSARY. 85 

Herietum, Heriotum, Hariotum. Sax. fcepgeat, from l3epe, 
an army, and Gear, a march or expedition. For heriots were first 
paid in military arms and horses : which proportion of horse and 
armour according to the different quality of the deceased, was 
settled by the laws of King Canute, cap. 6g, and is still com- 
monly the best riding horse of which a tenant dies possest. He- 
riot-service was a reserve by charter or other conveyance, and made 
one condition of the tenure of estates in fee simple, which is now 
for the most part extinguisht. Heriet-custom, when a tenant for 
life was by custom obliged to such payment at his death ; which 
payment to be made not only by the next heir in blood, (as a re- 
lief was only due) but by any the next successor. It was the prac- 
tise of our devout ancestors to have a heriet paid to the parish priest, 
which was commonly the best horse of the deceased, led before 
the corps, and delivered at the place of sepulture, of which piety 
several instances are given by Dugdale, Antiq. Warwic. p 680. 
This no doubt was one sort of soulcheat or legacy to the church, 
for satisfaction of all tithes and dues ignorantly detained In ab- 
bies of royal patronage, at the death or cession of an abbat, his cup 
and horse were paid for a heriet to the king.— Cum ex consuetu- 
dine approbata et obtenta habere consueuerimus palefridos et cuppas 
episcoporum eCjibbatum regni cedentium et aecedentium, Prynne, 
Histor. Collect, torn. 2, p. 834. — Abbas dt Oseneia obiit anno regni 
Regis Edwardi 25. — Pet/it eschaetor ad opus do mini regis cupam et 
palefridum dicti abbatis defuncti, et etiam tanas bidentum ejusdem 
abbatice de tempore vacalionis, K. p. 330. Those who held in 
bondage or villenage paid a heriet. In manerio de Wrechwyke — 
Juliana Hardy qua; tenuit de domino unum messuagium et unam 
virgatam terras in bondagio diem clausit txtremum, et accidit domi- 
no nova herieta, ii boves, pret. xvis. K. p 450'. Robertus Hikes 
tenens domini de Wrechwyke qui tenuit in bondagio — diem clausit 
extremum, et accidit domino nova her iota, unus bos pret. vn'is. et una 
vacca pret. \s. K. p. 458. Willielmus Foul qui de domino tenuit— > 
apud Wrechwyke in bondagio, diem clausit extremum, et debentur 
domino nominibus heriettce et mortuarii ii. vaccce pret. xiis. K. p. 4/0. 
In manerio de Pidington siquis villanus morietur super feodo domi- 
ni, dabit domino mehorem bovem suum, ita scilicet, quod sustentabit 
uxor em ejus in domo et terra quamdiuvixit, si teneat se viduam, sive 
occasione nemo maritabit jiHam suam sine iicentia domini, K. p. 496. 
The religious appropriators reserved the Live Heriets, i.e. such as 
were paid in cattle, to themselves ; and allowed the Inanimate 
Heriets, as of less value, to the poor vicar. So in the endowment 
of the vicarage of Oakle, the prior and canons of St. Frideswide — 
Qrdinavimus eidem vicario universa herieta inanimata 3 K. p. 455* 



86 GLOSSARY. 

And some appropriators exacted a Heriet from every dying vicar, 
as a badge of servile subjection to them. — Vicarius de Cestreton 
post ejus decessum dabit heriettam rectori et conventui domus de 
Asherugge, K. p. 543. 

Heybote. From Sax. 'Day, a hedge, and Bote, repair or emen- 
dation. The liberty of catting so much underwood and bushes 
within the premises as is necessary for mending and maintaining 
the fences or hedges. John Fitz Nigel forestar of Bernwode had 
in dominico bosco domini regis Huselote et Heybote pro custodies 
dictceforestce, K. p. 209. Fid. Husebote. 

Hide of Land. Not as Polydore Virgil fancies, from the hide 
of a beast, as if an English hide of land were like the extent of 
Carthage, Quantum taurino possint circundare tergo. But from 
Sax. lOyb, a house or habitation, from byban, to cover. The word 
was sometime taken for a house, as we still preserve the word 
Hutte for a cottage And what Bede calls Fami/ias (which Fami- 
lia seems to have been a circuit of ground sufficient for the main* 
tenanceof a family) his Saxon interpreter King Alfred calls Ijybe- 
lanber. The quantity of it was afterwards described to be as much 
as was sufficient to the cultivation of one plough. Hida Jvglice 
vocatur terra unius aratri cultures sufficiens, whence our term of 
plough-land. The quantity of a hide was never expresly deter- 
mined. Gervase of Tilbury makes it one hundred acres. The 
Malmsbury MS. cited by Spelman computes it at ninety-six acres, 
one hide four virgates, and every virgate twenty-four acres. And 
yet the history of the foundation of the abby of Battle ( Mon. Ang, 
torn. 1, p. 313) makes eight virgates go to one hide. But Polydore 
Virgil blunders most, who reduces a hide to twenty acres. The 
truth seems to be, that a hide, a yard-land, a knight s fee, &c con- 
tained no certain number of acres, but varied according to different 
places. In the Doomsday Inquisition the first enquiry was how 
many hides, K. p. 65. One hide of land at Chesterton 15 Hen II. 
contained sixty-four acres, K. p. 125. The yearly value of a hide 
of land in Blechesdon was fourty shillings in35Hen.III. K.p.244. 
Hidagium. Any royal aid or tribute to be raised in such a pro-, 
portion upon every hide of land. Will. Conq. an. 1084, imposed 
six shillings on every hide ; William Rufus four ; and King Hen. I. 
three shillings. To be exempted from this common tax was a pe- 
culiar privilege granted to the tenants within the honor of Wa- 
lingford, — Ut quieti sint de geldis et danegeldis et de hidagio, 
K. p. ] 14. When the lord paid Hidage to the king, the tenants 
paid a proportion to the lord of the mannor, — Prior et bursarius 
de Burcester computant de Miy. sol. iv. den. receptis de reddiiu in At^ 
necote cum hidagio ibidem hoc anno, K. p. 5JI* 



GLOSSARY. 8f 

Hill. Though by this word we now commonly mean any 
rising ground, yet some would have it restrained to such risings as 
were occasioned by the burial of the dead, as barrows and tumuli. 
As the word Hell, which though now appopriated to the place of 
the damned, yet at first signified no more than a grave, from frelan 
to cover, K. p, 37. Whence Island. Hel is death. 

Hobelers, Hobelarii, A sort of light horsemen, who rode on 
small nimble horses, with light armour, which made them fitter 
for any expeditious service, like our present dragoons. The word 
is commonly supposed to come from their Hobbys or small horses, 
which Casaubon, Fr. Junius, and others deduce from Gr. TtfifQs ' 
yet Sir James Ware, Antiq. Hiber. cap 7 , say s they were Irish 
horses, and so called from their easie pace. Hence we still call a 
little nag a Hobby, a Hobby-horse, and our plough men to some 
one of their cart-horses generally give the name of Hobin, the very 
word which Phil. Comines uses, Hist. 1. 6, cap. 7. And therefore 
the Hobelers were by the French, or rather by the Armoricans, 
called Hobiners. Fourty men at arms and thirty Hobelers, K. p. 
45Q. The Lat. Hula and Hola signified a countrey-house or small 
cottage, from Sax. fcojre, Teuton. Hojf, modern German Hoeve 3 
Eng. Hovel. Whence the Coloni, ceorls or clowns, were called 
Hobarii, to which we owe the name of Country-hobs, Plough-bob- 
bers, now Plough -jobbers, Hobbernouls now Jobbernouls, or jolt- 
headed c6untry fellows. To the same Huba possibly we owe the 
Hub of a wheel, a Hubbub or confused clamour, &c. 

Hoke. A Hook, nook, or corner. Sic usque le hoke versus h 
frereslone, K. p. 324. The Lat. Huchia, in Picardy and Scotland 
Huche, Eng. Hutch, was a long wooden box, from whence pos- 
sibly a Huckster, who carried about goods to sell in such a box; 
and perhaps things are thence said to be laid or kept in Hugger- 
mugger. 

Hokeday. The Tuesday fortnight after Easter day, celebrated 
with sports and rejoycing in memory of the Danes being killed on 
that day, and expelled this island, an. 1002, under King Ethelred, 
Mr. Lambart makes it Ducxtueybeg, dies Martis irrisorius. Spel- 
man from German Hocken, to besiege or to bind. But possibly 
Hokeday was no more than Heabaeg, high-day. Sax. l?ea, Fr. 
Haut, corrupted into Hock and Hog, as Haut-goust into Hogo.— • » 
Item inter Hokeday et diem S. Martini bene possunt ibidem ducentce 
quadraginta muttones sustentari ad opus domini ad terram suam 
compQstandam, K. p. 495, 

Homines. All sort of feudatory tenants. They claimed a pri- 
vilege of having their causes and persons tried only in the court of 
their lord. When Gerard de Camvil, 5 Richard I. was charged 



88 GLOSSARY. 

with treason and other high misdemeanors, he pleaded that he was- 
Homo Comitis Johannis, and would stand to the law or justice of 
his court, K. p. 152. 

Homagium. The duty of submission and profest dependance 
made by every Homo or feodal tenant, at first accession to an es- 
tate held from a superiour lord. The manner of paying this Ho- 
mage was determined by the stat. \J Edw. II. If the lord ac- 
cepted the homage, it was a concession of the tenant's right. — Op- 
tulit ei Bernardus humagium, sed recusante albate Godefrido, Ro- 
lertus secundus episcopus Lincolnice suscepit Mud, salvo jure abbatis 
et conventus de Egnesham, K. p. 133. 

Hostile. Consecrated wafers in the holy eucharist or Host. 
Isabel countess of Albemarle confirmed to the convent of Burcester 
five quarters of bread corn, — ad hostias faciendas in domo prcedicta, 
K. p. 270. From this Lnt. Hostia Mr. Somner deduces the Sax. 
I)urel, the Lord's Supper, and L'urlian. to administer that sacra- 
ment, and old Eng. to Housal, to receive it. And hence no doubt 
the old word Oste, the altar, and Oste-clothe, the altar-cloth, both 
which are transferred by metaphor to the top of a kiln for drying 
malt, and to the hair-cloth on whi; h the malt is laid. 

Hostricus. From Lat. Astur, a goshawk. The rnannor of 
Broughton, com. Oxon. in the reign of Edw. II. was held by John 
Mauduit — In capite per serjanliam mutandi unum hostricum do- 
mini regis, vel ilium hostricum portandi ad curiam domini regis, 
K. p. 569. 

Hundredus. The word not only used for the division of it self, 
but for the levy or contribution paid to the hundredarius or chief 
constable of every hundred for better support of his office. From 
which imposition jome persons were exempted by special privilege. 
So Hen. II. to Bernard de S. Walery, — ut terrce suce sint quietce 
de scyris et hundredis, K. p. 123. Secta hundredi was to pay a per- 
sonal attendance, and do suit and service at the hundred court held 
in some places once in three weeks, and in others once a month. 
Bardulphus de Cestrelon debet sectam ad hundredum de Chadlinton 
de tribus sepiimanis in ires septimanas, K. p. 3 IS. By the stat. 14 
Edw. III. these hundred courts were reduced to the county courts, 
yet some few hundreds have their old franchises remaining. Hun- 
dredus ajjirmatusi the profits of a hundred court firmed out for a 
standing rent. Item de bur go ujfirmato xxiii/. Item de hundreio 
affirmato — K. p. 354. 

Husebote. From Sax. fcujf, a house, and Bote, amends or 
repair. The liberty of cutting as much wood on the premises as 
is necessary for the support and repair of the farm-house and ad- 
joining buildings. — Concessi prcedktce Alesice heybotum et housbo* 



GLOSSARY. 89 

turn in dominicis boscis meis de Acle, K. p. 259. — De antiqua con- 
suetudine tenentes de Pi lington habent Housbote et Heybote in bosco 
domijii per licentiam domini, et per visum ballivi ejus, — Et si boscus 
domini abeat in vastum, turn acquietabunt dominum de prcedictis 
Housbote et Heybote, K. p, 497. We now call it Estovers, or Ra~ 
tionabile Estoverium, quod duplex est cedijicandi et ardendi. Coke 
on Littleton, f. 41. Whence Stover in Sussex is used for the fod- 
der of cattle. From Sax. Bore comes our Eng. no Boot, i. e. no 
profit. What Booteth it ? i. e. to what purpose. To give to Boot, 
i. e. to give odds as in compensation. Bote, a remedy, as Chaucer, 
" Bote of his bale," i, e. remedy of his grief. 



Illusfo mandati. An evasion or contemptuous omission of any 
order or command. — In nostri contemptum mamfestum, et manda- 
torum nostrorum illusionem, K. p. 335. 

Impanalare. To impanel or return upon a jury. From Lat. 
PaneLla, which, says Spelman, is properly Pagetla, atque inde de" 
ducia ginn transeunte. More naturally a contraction of Paginelta, 
which was the narrow scroll or slip of paper or parchment, where- 
upon the sheriff wrote the names of the jurors. As Fortescue de 
Laud. Leg. Ang. cap. 25. Vicecomes retornabit breve prcndictum 
coram jus titiariis una cum panello nominum eorum (Juratorum) quos 
ipse ad hoc summonivit. It is a sorry supposition of Sir Edward 
Coke, Gloss, ad Littleton, sect. 234. " Panel is an English word, 
and signifieth a little part, for a pane is a part, and a panel is a little 
part."— Non ponatur nee impanaletur in aliquibus assists, juratis, 
recognitionibus, &c. K, p. 657. Hence the counter-Pane of an 
indenture, or the duplicate responding sheet. The cover or 
counter- Pan of a bed. A Pane and Pannel in glass and wainscote. 
The brain-Pan. A Pan or broad plate, now commonly an earthen 
dish. A Pan-cake, not because made in a pan, but in the fashion 
of a panella : as a marche Pane, i. e. a sugar-cake. In the North 
a Pan in building is a term of architecture for that piece of timber 
which lies on the top of a wall, to which the bottoms of the spars 
or rafters are fastned : which in timber buildings is commonly 
called the Rasen, or Resen or Resening. Thence to Pan i e. to 
close or join together. As prov. " Weal and women cannot pan, 
but wo and women can." Dr. Skinner gives this silly derivation, 
Pannell a Lat. Pannus, q. d. Pannellus, metaphora a segmento panni 
ad segmentum ligni tabulati traducta. 

Implecto, idem ac Implacito. To implead in a court of justice. 



90 GLOSSARY, 

Cum homines de manerio de Hedingdon Hugonem de Plesseys in 
curia dom'nii regis implectasserit, K. p. 31Q. 

Importunitas viarum. Badness of the ways. Captllce paro- 
chianis ipsis ex gratia sunt concessce, quia ad malricem ecclesiam pro 
importunitate viarum et temporum — accedere nequeant, K. p. 587. 

Inclausa. An Inclosure round a house. Dicunt pet sacramen- 
tum suum quod capitate messuagium valet per annum cum tota in- 
clausa, \\s. K. p. 314. 

Incrementum, An advance in rent or other payment. — 
Reddendo antiquum Jir mam, et de incremento \\s. K. p. 164. — 
Taxatiospiritualitatis una cum incremento perretaxationem, K. p. 3 1 6. 
To which was opposed Decrementum, abatement, whence Decre- 
ments in our buttery books. 

Indictatio. An Indictment or presentment of those who com- 
mitted any illegal trespass. The benefit of which indictments in 
the Swainmote was given to the forestar. So in the forest of Bern- 
wode, John Fitz Nigel had Indictationes siquce fuerint de viridi et 
venatione, K. p. 20g, 265. 

Infangetkef. A liberty granted from the king to some lords 
of a mannor to try all thieves their tenants within their own court. 
As Outfangethef was a liberty of trying forreiners or strangers ap- 
prehended for theft within their own fee. Sir John de Molins had 
a charter for these privileges in bis mannorsof Brill, Ludgareshale, 
&c. 11 Edw. II. K.p.447. From Sax. Bey, a thief; and Fangan 
to take. Whence in the North to Fang is to take, and thence pos- 
sibly the Fangs or tusks of a boar. 

Infideles. Inter infideles connumerare, to excommunicate 
So Henry bishop of Winton threatned Brien Fitz-Count lord of 
Walingford, — Et vos nisi correxeritis inter infideles Anglicv cormu- 
merabo, K. p. J 00. 

Inhoc. This word is neither interpreted nor mentioned in any 
glossary I have yet seen. It signified any corner or out part of a 
common field ploughed up and sowed (and sometime fenced off), 
within that year wherein the rest of the same field lay fallow. It is 
now called in the North an Intock, and in Oxfordshire a Hitching, 
It seems derived from Sax. Inge, a field or meadow, and Hoke, a 
corner or nook. Whence an Inge now in Lincolnshire signifies 
any open field or common. The making of such Inhoke or en- 
closure by any one lord or tenant, was a prejudice to all who had 
the right of common. — Frater Walterus prior Bcrencestricg fieri 
fecit quoddam Inhoc in campo waretabili utriusque Ernicote in Muc- 
klecroft sub curia ejusdem priuris per quod abbas Osen. dicebat se de 
communi pastura ibidem disseisin, K, p. 297. Noverit universitas 



GLOSSARY. 91 

vestra nosfecisse quoddam Inhokium in campo de Dunthrop sine as- 
sensu et voluntate prioris et conventus de Cold-Norton, — iinde quo- 
rundam fratrum et aliorum amicorum freti consilio prcedictum In- 
hokium volunt depascere, K. p. 2Q8. This trespass or encroach- 
ment was expresly prohibited in some charters. — Hac ratione quod 
dominus hayam nee pasturam separabil em faciet ah hominibus infra 
campum warectahilem, K. p. 496. The nature of an Inhcke is 
more plain by this deed. Anno regni regis Henrici filii regis Jo~ 
hannis quinquagesimo secundo die S. Barv.abcs apostcli facta fuit 
hcec conventio inter fratrem W. abbatem Oscn. et priorem de Coges, 
et dominam Kalherinam Lovel, Roberlum de Broc dominos villce de 
parva Tywci et alios liberos tenentes ejusdem uillce ex una parte, et 
Johannem de Pratellis dominum de magna Tyivaex altera, videlicet, 
cum dictus Johannes seminasset et Inhokamfecisset de quadam cul- 
tura quae vocatur Costowa sine voluntate died abbaiis et aliorum 
praenominatorum, et insuper in defensum posuisset communem pas- 
turam totius warettos inter viam quce vocatur JVodewey, et parvam 
Tywam, quam communam dictus abbas et prcenominati clamaverunt 
ex antiquo esse jus suum, &c. Dictus Johannes recognovit illam 
communam pasturam esse jus ipsius abbatis et aliorum dominorum 
prcenominatorum quotiens a diciis culturis bladum asportatum fuerit, 
et terra seminata nonfuerit. Et obligavit se et hoeredes suos imper- 
petuum per fidem et prcesens scriptum quod nunquam de dicta pas- 
tura quicunque seminabit nee Inhokam faciet in prcejudicium dicti 
abbatis, &c. Ex Kegist. Osen. MS. penes Decan. et Capit. Md. Ck. 
Ox. MS. 

Inlandys. Inland was that part of an estate which was held 
in demesne, or to the proper uses of the lord in opposition to the 
Outiand, which was set to tenants ; or rather the inclosures as di- 
stinguisht from the common fields. Thomas Billingdon quit 
claimed his right of commonage in all the Inlandys of Edward Rede 
lord of Borstall, 15 Ken. VI. X. p. 624. 

iNauisiTio, An Inquest on the oaths of twelve or more legal 
men to give verdict in any cause, for licence of which a fine was 
paid to the king. — Thomas de Fekingham debet regi quinque mar- 
cas et unum palefridum, sic quod in quisitio fiat utrum,&c. K. p. 171. 

Insect ator. A prosecutor or adversary. — Quod etiam ejus in- 
sectatores parvo post tempore duraverunt, imo dira morte perierunt, 
K. p. 388. 

Instauramentum. Store or breed. — Et de instauramento tria 
jumenta, i. e. three store cattel, K. p. 288. 

Institution. A clerk might be instituted in an ecclesiastical 
benefice, either in person or by proxy. — Johannes le Fleming pra- 
sentatus ad ecclesiam de Ambresdon et admissus, et rector in persona 



$2 GLOSSARY. 

Johannis de Scallehy preslyteri procuratoris sui canonice institutus 
K. p. 334. 

Invadiare. To engage or give security. From Lat. Vadium, 
Guadium, a pledge or surety. Thence a Gage, a Wager, a Mort- 
gage, to Wage war or law, Wages, &c.—Habenda sibi et hceredi- 
hus — et cuicunque dare, vendere, invadiare, assignare, tSfc. volue- 
rint, K. p. 202. 

Investitura terrce. Livery of land and tenements from the 
lord to any inferiour tenant.— Quando aliquis tenens de Wrechwyke 
mortuusjuit, et terra sua sit seminata, et uxor ejus nor. potest inve- 
nire plegios ad tenenda messuagia et terras quas ipse et ipsa in vita 
sua tenuerint, quod erit ad electionem dornini quis habehit investitu- 
ram prcedictce ierrcv, K. p. 459. 

Jurnale. The Journal or diary of accounts, or receipts and ex- 
pences in a religious house. — Ut patet per jurnale hoc anno—ut 
patet per prcedictum jurnale, K. p. 57 1. From Fr. Jour, a day, 
whence Journey was properly one day's travel. Journe was in old 
Eng. one day's work. A Journy-man, or one who works by the 
day. To Adjourn, &c. 

Justitia. Just rights, liberties, and privileges.— Dummodo di- 
ocesani episcopi eis sujj'ragetur assensus, et per novam struct uram ve- 
terum ecclcsiarum justitia non loedatur, K. p. 694. 

Justitiarius Forests. Justice in Eyre. — Testibus Hugone le 
Despenser justitiario forests citra Trentam, K. p. 339. 

K. 

Kalends. Rural chapters so called because held on the ka- 
lends or first day of every month, as at first every three weeks, and 
at last only once a quarter, K. p 640. 

Kernellare. To build a wall or tower Kernelled or Crenelle, 
with Cranys or notches out of which they shot their arrows. SpeJ- 
man derives it from the Sax. Cyjinel, a seed or Kernel, from 
whence says he Cyjinelen, to rise in knobs or bunches. But Du 
Fresne justly reflects on this violence done to the word, and finds 
it to be quarnellus or quadranellus, a four square hole or notch, 
ubicunque patent quarnelli sive fenestrce. This form of walls and 
battlements for military uses and chiefly for shooting with bows 
and arrows, might possibly borrow name from quadrellus, a four 
6quare dart. 

" Nee tamen interea cessat balista vel arcus 

Quadrellos hcec multiplicat, pluit ilia sagittas." 

Licentiam dedimus Johanni de Handlo quod ipse mansum suum de 



GLOSSARY. 93 

Borstall juxta Brehul in com. Buck, muro depetra et calcejirmare 
et kernellare possit, K. p. 363. Sir John de Molins obtained leave 
to fortifle his mannor-houses of Stoke-Pogeis and Ditton with 
walls of stone and kernelled, K. p. 463. 

Kevere. A Cover or vessel used in a dairy house for milk or 
whey. — Compotus Henrici Deye et Johannce uxoris de exitibus et 
proventihus de Dayri — Allocantur pro novo Kevere empto viii, den. 
Hence in Devonshire a Keeve is the Vat or Fat wherein they work 
their beer. And in Kent a Keeler is a broad shallow vessel of 
wood wherein they set their milk te cream and their wort to cool. 
The Kevels in a ship are the holes wherein they lay up the shrouds 
and tackling. 

L. 

Lacrymatories. Small earthen vessels, wherein the tears of 
surviving friends were reposited and buried with the urns and 
ashes of the dead, K. p. 13. 

Lagjena. A Gr. Aayavo^. Whence Sax. Flaxa, Eng. Flaggon, 
and Flesk of wine, Flask for gun-powder, Flasket forcloaths, old 
Eng. Flash of arrows, &c. Claret was eight-pence and Muscadine 
sixteen-pence per lagenam at Burcester in 3 Hen. VI. K. p. 574. 

Lardarium. Lardi Locus. The Larder or place where the 
Lard and meat were kept. Whence to Lard with bacon. Tenentes 
de Pidington carialunt satem domini deforo ubi emptus fuit ad lar- 
darium domjni, K. p. 496. 

Legatum. A mortuary. In all churches appropriated to the 
abby of Oseney, the perpetual vicars by endowment were to have 
every second mortuary, if to the value of sixpence : and one half 
of it if beyond that value. — Vicarius per abbatem et conventum 
Osen. prcesentandus et instituendus ab episcepo — habebit secundum 
legatum ad valentiam sex denariorum, et quod ultra sex denarios 
fuerit, intra ipsum et canonicos dimidiabitur , K. p. 304. So at 
Burcester, K. p. 559. 

Per Legem Anglice tenere. To hold by the law or courtesie of 
England : when a man is tenant for life to the inheritance of his 
wife deceased. Hen. de Lacy com. Line, tenet manerium de Bur- 
cester ad terminum vitce suee per legem Anglice de hcereditate Mar- 
garetce uxoris suae, K. p. 36l . 

Leg ales homines. Persons who are legally qualified to serve 
in a jury, as being neither excommunicate nor out-lawed. Abbas 
Robertus implacitavit-—et electi sunt duodecim homines legales de 
idcinetOy K. p. 134. 

Lees. A common pasture. From Sax.Laerpe, whence in the 



94 GLOSSARY* 

North Leasow, a meadow. And in Kent most of the wide com* 
mon heaths or pastures are called Leeses, as Braborn Lees, Post- 
ling-Lees, &c. — Dimidia acra bi Lese-mor-side, K. p. 400. One 
close in Adingrave called Pennie leys, K. p. 624. Though this 
latter seems from the Sax. Leag, a field, whence a Lay and Ley of 
land, and the Laie<* in a common field. 

Lev are denarios. To Levy or raise mony. Pelrus de Jshe- 
rugge tunc seneschallus honoris S. IValerici appropriavit dictum ma~ 
nerium ad honor em S. IValerici, et ibidem lenuit visum per annum 
levando de eadem villata xii. denarios de recto visu pro omnibus, 
K. p, 333. 

Lev are foenum. To make hay, or properly to cast it into wind- 
rows, in order to cock it up. — Debent quinque dies de consuetudine 
videlicet per unum diem foenum levare, et per tres in autumpno me- 
tere, K. p. 229. — Homines de Hedingdon venient cum furcis suis 
ad dictum foenum levandum et thassandum, K. p. 320. Una leva' 
tiofoeni, one day's hay-making, a service paid the lord by inferior 
tenants.-— Alicia quos fuit uxor Richardi le Grey ,—faciet unam 
sarculaturam, et unam wedbedripam, et levationem foeni, K. p. 402* 

Libellus. A Libel or declaration in a court of civil or eccle- 
siastical judicature. Petitio Libelli, the sueing for or taking out 
such libel. — Possint eos et eorum. successores per omnem censuram 
ecclesiasticam ad omnium et singulorum prcemissorum observantiam 
absque articuli seu libelli petitione et quocunque strepilu judiciali 
compellere, K. p. 344. 

Libera. A Livery or delivery of so much grass or corn to a 
custumary tenant who cuts down or prepares the said grass or corn, 
and receives some part or small portion of it as a reward or gratuity. 
— Habebit liberam ad vesperas quce vocatur evenyngs, K. p. 401. 
So the Livery of hay and oats, as giving out such a quantity of pro- 
vender for the feeding horses, K. p. 378. Whence a Livery- 
stable, Livery-horses, servants in Livery. A white Livered fel- 
low, &c. 

L\ ber a.tur k et seisina. Livery and seisin given by the supe- 
riour lord of the fee. When a minor was in ward, and came to 
age, the estate of military service in the king's hands was delivered 
up : for which Livery the heir paid a fine or composition. So 
Gerard de Camvil having married Eustace daughter of Gilbert Bas^ 
set, gave two thousand marks and ten palfries to the king for Livery 
of her father's inheritance, K. p. 167. 

Libra ad numerum. A pound in ready mony opposed to Libra 
ursa et pensitata, a pound weight in solid metal. In Doomsday 
Register the king's mannor of Brill reddebat tempore regis Ed~ 
wardi xviii. libras ad numerum, K. p. 165. 



GLOSSARY. 95 

Lictus. Liege, pure, lawful. Viduitas ligia, pure widow- 
hood. — Ysabel Gargatjilia mea in ligia viduitate et libera potestate 
sua, K. p. 190. Potestas ligia, free and absolute disposal, — Ego 
Ela de Aldithleia in libera viduitate mea et ligia potestate, K.p.280. 

Linteamen. A towel or other course lirmeri cloth. — Et in 
canvays empt. Londin. per Richardum Dymby — pro lintheaminibus 
faciendis iii sol. K. p. 574. 

Literatura. Literature, in old Eng. Lettrure. Ad literatu- 
ram ponere, to put out children to school. Which liberty was 
denied to some parents who were servile tenants without consent 
of the lord. So in the lands at Burcester which were held in vil- 
lenage from the prioress of Merkyate, — Quilibet custumarius non 
debet Jilium suum ad literaturam ponere, neque Jiliam suam mari- 
tare sine lice ntia et voluntate priorissce, K. p. 401. This Julian 
like prohibition of educating sons to learning, was owing to this 
reason, for fear, the son being bred to letters might enter into re- 
ligion or sacred orders, and so stop or divert the services which 
he might otherwise do as heir or successor to his father. 

Locutorium. A parlour. The religious after they had dined 
in their common refectory had a withdrawing room, where they 
met for discourse and conversation : which room for that sociable 
use they called Locutorium, a loquendo, and Parlour a Fr. Parler 
— Et Willielmo Hykkedon latamo conducto per r/uatuor dies ad fa" 
ciendum limen liostii locutorii versus aulam prioris xvi. den. K. p.574. 

Lokys. Sax. Loccar, Locks or flocks of course and refuse 
wool, which in Kent are called Lucks and Dag- wool. — Computani 
de duolus solidis receptis de lana fracta videlicet Lokys collecta in 
tonsura ovium vendita Johanni Deye hoc anno, K. p. 572. Whence 
a Lock of hair, and a hard matted or clatted Lock of hair in the 
neck is called an Ellflock. Thence Lock, a thread, and Lockram 
linnen cloath of a courser thread. 

LoauELA sine die. A respite in law, or demurr to an indefinite 
time. — Si vir tenens fuerit infra cetalern et uxor plence cetatis, cum 
implacitati fuerint , non remanebit loquela sine die propter minorem 
cetatemviri, K. p. 210. 

Luminare. A lamp or candle set burning on the altar of any 
church or chappel, for the maintenance of which lands and rent 
charges were frequently given to religious houses and parish 
churches. So Gilbert Basset gave to his new priory at Burcester, 
— unam virgatam terrce in Slratton ad luminare prcedictce ecclesice 
K. p. 136. It was sometimes expresly provided that this luminary 
should burn all night, and in the day at canonical hours, and du- 
ring divine service. So Richard de Camvil and Eustace his wife 
gave a virgate of land in Burcester to Robert Clerk, — Ita iamtn 



96 GLOSSARY. 

quod prcedictus Rolertus Clericus vel hceredes sui invenient lampd* 
dem unam ante altare sancti Nicholai in majori ecclesia S Marice et 
S. Edburgce de Bsrencester, — qualibel node totaliter, et quolibet 
die dum divina celelrantur, et ad horas canonicales ardentem, 
K, p. 180 Which virgate of land seems to have been one part 
of Candle-meadow, so called from being thus charged with finding 
a light or candle in the conventual church, which part of the said 
meadow was afterwards resigned to the said prior and convent. — 
Philippa countess of Warwick gave seven shillings yearly rent to 
the priory of Burcester, — Ita tamen quod dicti cononici — unam 
lampadem semper ardentem coram altari beati Johannis Baptistce in 
ecclesia conventuali de Berencester in perpetuum inveniant, K,p.233. 
Hugh de Plugenet granted to the Priory of St. Frideswide com- 
mon pasture in his manner of Hedingdon, &c. to find one lamp in 
the said church of Hedingdon, K. p. 334. A Luminary at the 
great altar was sometimes maintained by the rector of the church, 
and in vicarages this expence was charged on the appropriators. — 
So in the ordination of the vicarage of Meriton appropriated to the 
abby of Egnesham, — Incensum luminare in cancello prcedicto dictos 
religiosos et eorum successores supportare volumus et ordinarnus in 
perpetuum suis sumptibus subire, K. p. 483. By the ecclesiastical 
constitutions in Normandy it was ordained that once in a year about 
Pentecost, the priest and capellanes should come with their people 
in a full procession to the mother church, and for every house 
should offer on the altar a wax taper to enlighten the church, K. 
p. 598. The rents that were given to this use were sometimes em. 
bezled by the parish priest, against which abuse bishop Grosthead 
provided in this diocese, — Prcecipimus etiam ut redditus assignati 
per devotionem laicorum ad luminaria vel ad alios usus honestos in 
ipsis ecclesiis non committantur per ipsos rectores in usus et emolu- 
menta eorundem. Constit. Rob. Episc. Lincoln. MS. 

M. 

Manerium. A Mannor. Skene gives it an affected derivation, 
Manerium quasi Manurium, such a circuit of land to be Manured or 
cultivated by handy- work. But it is truly from the Fr. Manoir, ha- 
bitation, or Lat. Manendo, the place of residence to the chief lord. 
This word was brought in by the Normans, — Galfridus Constan- 
tiensis episcopus — dono Gulielmi regis ducentas et octoginta villas, 
quas a manendo manerios vulgo vocamus, obtinuit, Order. Vital. 1. 4. 
The constitution of a mannor was this, The king granted to some 
baron or military man a certain circuit of ground for him and his 
heirs to dwell upon and to enjoy, holding some part in demesne to 



GLOSSARY. 97 

their own use and occupation; and letting out other parcels to free 
or servile tenants,, who were to do their suit and service at the 
court of the said mannor,, now called the lord's court and court 
baron. Manerium was sometimes used simply for the court or 
mansion of the lord, whence we say the site of the mannor, and 
the mannor-house, called otherwise Manerium domus, as Reginald 
earl of Bologne and Ida his countess gave to the priory at Cold 
Norton Manerium domus sicut sedet el constitutum est, K. p. 1(53. 
Again it was sometimes taken for the mannor-house, and all the 
demesne land belonging to it, — Hahebit vicarius de Cestreton to- 
tum altaragium ac omnes decimas minores et oblation es ad dictam 
ecclesiam qualitercunque spectantes, decimis tamen quibuscunqUe de 
manerio ibidem provenientibus totaliter exceptis, K. p. 543. In the 
Doomsday tenure, one village or parish was often held for two or 
more mannors. So Robert de Oily held Burcester pro duolus ma" 
neriis, K. p. 65. At present the word Mannor does not so much 
imply the seat or the land, as it does the royalty and jurisdiction 
belonging to a court baron. For a man may now have the mannor 
though he has not a foot of land within the bounds of it, which is 
called a Mannor in Gross. As the other may be called a Mannor 
Appendant which goes along with the mannor-house, or site, or 
other ground. 

Mansio Canonicorum. The court or chief country-house of 
the religious upon one of their mannors, where they kept their 
courts, and sometimes resided for health and diversion. In IVeston 
virgatam, ubi mansio canonicorum est, K. p. J 98. 

Man sum Cupitale. The chief manse, or mannor-house, or 
court of the lord. Henry de Oily gave to the abby of Oseney 
Capitate man sum meum in Weston cum ejus pertinentiis, K. p. 150. 
Called sometimes Curia Capi talis. — Thomas de S. Walery gave to 
the abby of Oseney totum manerium meum Mhebury cum capitali 
curia, K. p. 150. 

Mansus Presbyteri. The Manse of the parish priest, the par- 
sonage or vicarage-house. — Hah eat etiam dictus vicarius (i. e. de 
Ambresdon) pro inhabitatione sua ilium mansum in quo presbyter 
parochice dictce ecclesice inhabitare consuevit, et duo cotagia eidem 
adjacentia, K. p 431. 

MANUPRtsoR. One who was bail, plege, or security for another 
person Sir Eubuio le Strange in 5 Edw. III. was a Manuprisor 
for Hugh de Spensar, K. p. 419. Whence Without bail or Main- 
prise. 

Mara. A Moor. Either from Lat. Mare, or rather Brit. Mor. 
The word Mara was used for any lake, pool, pond, or other stand- 
ing water, — Sedens super lacum quern usu quotidiano loquendi Ma- 
li 



98 GLOSSARY. 

ram vocamus, Will. Gemet. 1. 2, cap. 20.— Castrum et manerium 
de Bolyngbroke cum soke mar a et marisco, K. p. 418. Called 
sometimes Mem from Brit. Mtr, Sax. OQep, water, whence a Mere- 
swine, a dolphin, a Mear or lake, Mire or dirt, the Meers or 
ditches, or Mere-stangs, or other boundaries of land. — Istudprce- 
cedens furlong jacet ah Oxenford-ivey usque ad quondam meram 
terrce dominicce dom. Lestraunge, K. p. 530. A Lousmonger S" 
path predict a jacet una viridis mera, et in fine inferior e ipsius merce 
descendit quidam sulcus Jluens inter medium de Stanford more, 
K. p. 531. — Incipiendo juxta quoddam parvum more jacens adjinem 
cujusdam semitce pedes tris vocatco Seynt Edburgh-ivey, K. p* 531. 
— Cum marisco integro qui vocatur Crocwell-moor, K. p. 1S7» 
Hence to Moore a ship, i. e. to lay her up in the mud of a haven. 

Marinarius. A Mariner. Marinariorum Capilaneus, the ad- 
miral or warden of the ports, which offices were commonly united 
in the same person. The word Admiral not coming in before the 
latter end of King Edward I. — Rex capilaneo marinariorum, et 
eisdem marinariis — salutem, K. p. 322. 

Marchio. From the Lat. Marchia, Sax. CCeapc, limit or 
bounds. Hence the Marches, old Eng. Marchis, or borders of 
Wales. The March or limited motion of an army, though this 
military Marching seems rather from the Brit, and old Gall. March, 
a horse, from whence Sax. OCaepe, Eng. Mare. Marchio was strictly 
the governour of the Marches, but any keeper or constable of an 
eminent castle was called Marchio. As Brientius fiilius Comitis 
marchio de Walengford, K. p. 85. Whence our titles of Marquess 
and Marchioness. 

Maritagium, dare in maritagio. To give an estate as a mar- 
riage portion to a daughter. — Concessimus Thomce Basset terram de 
Dedinton quam dederat Willielmo Malet in maritagio cum filia sua, 
K. p. 102. Villam de Menelida quam Alanus de Dunstanvill pater 
ipsius Cecilice dedit ad se maritandam, K. p. 171* Maritagium 
Liberum, frank-marriage j when a baron, knight, or freeholder, 
granted such a part of his estate with a daughter to her and her 
husband, and the heirs of her body to hold without any homage or 
service to the donor. So Maud daughter of Simon St. Liz, gave 
to the abby of St. Neots, com. Hunt, the third part of the mannor 
of Cratesfeld, held by her in frank-marriage, — Dedi tertiam partem 
totius manerii mei de Cratesfeld quod est liberum, maritagium meum, 
K. p. yg. — Willielmus Longspe dedit et concessit Henrico filio Ed- 
mundi de Lacy Margaretam filiam suam et hceredem, et cum ipsa 
in libero maritagio maneria sua de Burncester et Midlington, K. 
p. 251. In libero maritagio suo, in her pure widowhood, when the 
relict held the lands which she brought to her late husband : — 



GLOSSARY. 99 

Post mortem Roberti de Oily Editha in libero maritagio suo pluru 
mas terras dedit canonicis de Oseneia, K. p. 90. In marriage it 
was a custom for the woman to be endowed at the church door, 
K. p. 388. Maritagium habere, to have the free disposal of an 
heress in marriage, a favour granted by the king who was guardian 
of all wards or heirs in minority. — Mandatum est vicecom. Oxon. 
quod habere faciat W. com. Sarum maritagium jilice Ricardi de 
Camvill genitce de Eustachia — ad opus Willielmi sui primogeniti, 
K. p. J 82. Pro maritanda Jltia, a fine or composition paid to the 
king by every baron or military tenant, for leave to marry a sole 
daughter and heir. Gilbert Basset 6 Rich. I. gave one hundred 
pounds fine to the king, that his daughter Eustace might be mar- 
ried to Thomas de Verdon, K. p. 154. If any person married such 
an heiress without the king's leave, he lost her whole estate, unless 
he could compound by a severe fine. So Robert de Peesley paid 
sixty marks and one palfry to be reconciled to the king for having 
married Alice de Chesterton, K. p. l6l. John Gitfard paid three 
hundred marks for marrying without licence Maud the widow of 
William Longspe, K. p. 2/5. Jordan de Meriton paid twenty- 
marks fine for taking Maud the relict of John le Marsh, K. p. 308. 
Sir John de Handlo compounded for one hundred pounds upon 
marriage of Maud widow of John Lovel, K. p. 37 J* Alice coun- 
tess of Lincoln and Sarum lost the greatest part of her estate for 
this trespass of marrying Eubulo le Strange, K. p. 39 1. Some in- 
feriour tenants were under the same obligations to the lords, as the 
lords to the king, — Si homines (de Hedingdon) filias suas extra liber- 
tatem dicti manerii maritare voluerint, dabunt doinino pro qualibet 
jilia sic maritata duos solidos,—et hoc pro catallis extra libertatem 
dicti manerii cum ipsa remotis : et si infra libertatem ejusdem ma- 
nerii eas maritaverint, nihil dabunt pro maritagiis earundem, K. ' 
p. 320. In the mannor ofWrechwyke — Willielmus Searich ad ha- 
bendum in uxorem Johannam quce fuit uxor WiUielmi Foul venit 
hie in curiam, et dat domino dejine pro eadem in maritagio habenda 
x 5. et habet inde diem solvendi ) K. p. 470. Among the custumary 
tenants at Burcester King's-End, who held from the prioress of 
Merkyate — Quilibet custumarius non debet— Jilium suum ad litera- 
turam ponere, ?iequejiliam suam maritare sine licentia et voluntate 
domince priorissce, K. p. 401 . The widow of a tenant in villenage 
held her husband's estate during her widowhood, Matilda qucefuit 
uxor Rob pr tiHikkes clamavit totumprcedictum7nessuagium~-dumvixe- 
rit sine marito faciendo servitia et redditus omnes, K. p 458. The fine 
or composition paid by such tenants for the liberty of disposing theii 
daughters was called Merchetum, Merchet, from the Scotch Mar- 
chet, Marcheta, which was a commutation of mony or cattel given 

h2 



100 GLOSSARY. 

to the lord to bny off the old impious custom of the lord lying the 
first night with the bride. Hect. Boet. Hist. Scot. p. 260. Buchan. 
1. y. Skenoeus in voce, &c. From which Marcheta mulieris used 
sometimes for the said commutation, and sometimes by metaphor 
for a maidenhead, possibly comes the prov. " Such a woman's 
Marchet or market is spoiled ;" more especially applied to her who 
has lost her Marchet or virginity. Hence in several parts of En- 
gland the word Merkin is used for Pules mulieris. From the word 
Marry they use Marrow in the North for a companion or fellow, 
as gloves and shoes are not Marrows, i. e. are not well matcht, or 
not fellows. 

Martyrologium, Martilegium. A Martyrology or register 
kept in religious houses, wherein they set down the donations of 
their benefactors, and the days of their death: that upon each an- 
niversary they might commemorate and pray for them. And there- 
fore several benefactors made this a condition in their charters, — 
Isabel Gargate covenanted with the prior and canons of Burcester, 
— Cum de hac vita migravenmus, facieni nomina nostra scribi in 
vnartirologio suo, K. p. I89. Henry Lacy earl of Lincoln was a 
benefactor to the canons of Burseough com. Line, on this condition, 
that they should insert in their Martyrology and canon or mass book 
his name, and the name of Margaret his wife, K. p. 307. The 
canons of St. Marie Overy in Southwark for the favours of Sir 
John de Molins covenanted, that as soon as they should hear of the 
death of him or of Egidia his wife, they would inscribe their name 
in their publick Martyrology, and make recital of them annually in 
their chapter, K. p. 425. The religious granted the promise of this 
civility to their patrons, as a complement of gratitude and respect, 
— Nos Johannes Clyfton et conventus canonicorum regularium mon. 
Dorcestre Lincoln. — voluimus et ordinavimus quod cum contigerit 
eundem Edmundum (i. e* Rede de Borstal) ah hac luce migrare, ut 
nomina omnium supradictorum cum obitu eorum in nostro martilegio 
inserantur, et singulis annis juturis perleganturin die anniversariorum 
suorum prcesenti conventu in domo nostra capitulari, K. p. 626. 

Mattes. Mats made of straw or rushes. From Lat. Matta, 
Ovid. 1, 0. Fast. — in plausiro scirpea Mattafuit, which perhaps the 
Romans borrowed from the old Teuton. Matte, Sax. OCeatte. To 
make bed-Mats of reeds or straw was a great employment of the 
ancient monks. Hence to be Matted or entangled, — In quinque 
scotellis minoris sortis emptis ibidem pro cccteris qjjiciis ix. den. et in 
x. Matts ibi:l. hoc anno \u\.den. K. p. 5/4. 

Medietas Benejicii. The Moity, or half the annual profits of 
an ecclesiastical living, which some of the clergy freely contributed 
to King Edw. I. to maintain a war with France, for which benevo- 



GLOSSARY. 101 

lence the king granted his special protection, — Cum dilectus nobis 
magister Radulfus de Mertival persona ecclesice de Amirosden me- 
dietatem beneficii, &c. — nobis in subsidium nostrum de anno prcesenti 
juxta taxationem ultimo inde factam liberaliter concessit et graian- 
ter, K. p. 322. 

Mercandisa. All goods and wares exposed to sale in fairs and 
markets. In omnibus liurgis et villaiis nostris, et etiam in singulis 
nundinis, et mercatis nostris libere valeant emere et vendere omnes 
mercandisas absque, ullo theloneto seu stallagio, K. p. 311. And 
therefore Mercatores was not restrained, as it now seems to be, to 
Merchants or traffiquers in forreigri commodities, but extended to 
all sort of traders, pedlers, buyers, and sellers, — Omnes homines et 
mercatores honoris de Walingford, K. p. 113. 

Merennum, Merannum, Merremium, Maremium, Maeremium, 
quodvis materiamen, unde vocis origo, called in French le merrien 
and marren. Any refuse wood, or old pieces of timber and boards 
that are left among the rubbish after building or repairing, or pull- 
ing down of houses, — In diversis hominibus conductis ad seponenclum 
el extrahendum vetus merennum massam et lapides x. den. K. p. 575. 
— Et in merenno empto apud Curt/yngion cum cariagio ejusdem pro 
collistrigio apud Dadyngton de novo faciendo , K. p. 577« 

Metteshep. Perhaps it ought to be Mittenscep, from Sax. 
CDitten, to measure, or GQitta, a mete or measure, and Ceap, goods 
or chattle : for the Metteshep seems to be a fine or penaltie paid 
by the tenant for his neglect or omission of doing his custumary 
service. In the man nor of Pidington — qucelibet virgata terrce sol~ 
vet per an. (juinque sglidos et quatuor dies de consuetudine, videlicet 
unum diem ad pratum domini falcandum ad cibum domini, vet do- 
mino dabit quadraginta denarios pro Metteshep, K. p. 4Q5. 

Ministrallus, Ministrellus, a ministrando. At first any buf- 
foon or actor of ridicule, commonly retained for the diversion of 
persons of quality, and afterward restrained to a player on musick, 
a Minstrel. Et in dads cuidam ministrallo domini Lestraunge in 
eodemfesto xii. den. K. p. 578. These Minstrels or merry fidlers 
were in several parts of England a sort of corporation, and had a 
King of Minstrels, for which a charter and a confirmation of it may 
be seen in Mon. Ang. torn. 1. p. 355. 

Missale celebrare. To say Mass, and administer the sacrament 
of the Mass. Halelit de oblationibus ad altare provenientilus unum 
denarium, missale quoties celebraverit, et denarius provenerit t K. 
p. 304. 

Molitura, Mulitura, Multura; a Molo to grind. It some- 
times signified a grist or sack of corn brought to the mill to be 
ground. But more commonly taken for the toll paid for grinding. 



102 GLOSSARY. 

So Sir Wido de Meriton in his charter to the Knights Templars, — 
Concesserunt mihi fratres unam libertatem adsuurn molendinum sci- 
licet molendi segetem pro multura reddendo, pro segete qvcc est in 
tremuta, et meum bras'mm sine multura, K. p. 120. Molilura li- 
bera, free grinding without paying toll, a privilege which the lord 
generally reserved to his own family, — Solva mihi et haredilus 
meis violitura libera familice nostrce quieta in dicto molendino, K. 
p. 236. Salva mihi et hceredibusmeis secta curiae, et molendini mei 
de Bigenhull cum omnimodo blado et brasio, K. p. 296. Our Eng. 
Mil is from the Sax. QQylen, Island. Mil, to grind: in prceterito, 
Mulde, whence in Lincolnshire a Mill is called a Miln, and in other 
parts a Muln, as Muln-wey, i. e. the Mill-way, K. p. 3g5. Hence 
the Sax. OColb, Island Molld, Eng. Mould, or what is ground to 
dust, old Eng. Mulle, pouder or dust. Mculdy, and ready to 
Moulder away. Mullock in the North dirt or rubbish : and a Mole 
from casting up the Mould is called a Mould- warp. A. Mullet, 
the stone on which painters grind their colours. Molter in the 
North the toll of a Mill. 

Molneda, Mulneda. A Mill-pool. Gilbert Basset in his foun- 
dation charter to the priory of Burcester, gave — quoddam pratun- 
culum quod vocatur Hamma, quod extenditur de crqfla Serici de 
Wrechwic per la Mulnedam usque illuc ubi novus rivulus descendit 
in veterem rivulum, et ipsam mulnedam ad faciendum ibi molendi- 
num 3 K. p. 135. Molta, Fr. Moulte, was to be paid for the service 
of grinding, or the use of a mill. If I should from hence derive 
our Eng. Malt, Dutch Mout, it would be a less absurd conjecture 
than that of Dr. Skinner, who would deduce it from the verb to 
Melt, quia, ut omnibus notum est, aqud maceratur, donee germina 
emitiat. 

Mortmain Statute made in 7 Edw. I. de terris in manum 
mortuam non ponendis, to restrain the donation of any lands or te- 
nements to religious or pious uses, where they lay in a dead hand, 
without succession or due service to the lord and the king. By 
any such donation after the said statute, the lands were forfeited to 
the king, if the more immediate lord of the fee made not his 
claim within one year after such alienation, — Accepimus perinqui- 
sitionem coram nobis factam quod abbas et conventus de Oseney ap- 
propriarint sibi et domui suce duas virgatas terrce in Chestreton — 
post publicationern statuti de terris et tenementis ad manum mortuam 
non ponendis editi sine licentia regis, K. p. 367. When the kings 
by special license dispensed with this statute, there was a previous 
inquisition Ad quod dampnum, and a return upon oath, that it 
would be no prejudice to the dignity and revenues of the crown, 
K. p. 381. This law is now relaxed by stat. 39 Eliz. cap. 5, of 



GLOSSARY. 103 

giving lands to hospitals : and 14 Car. IT. cap. Q, of purchasing 
lands and tenements for the poor within the cities of London and 
Westminster. 

Mortuarium. A Mortuary. The word was used in a civil as 
well as an ecclesiastical sense, and was payable to the lord of the 
fee, as well as to the priest of the parish. — Debentur domino (i.e, 
manerii de Wrechwyke) nominibus herietce et mortuarii duce vaccce 
prei x\\. sol. K. p.4/0. Fid. Hekietum et Legatum. 

Mullo, Mullio. A cock or pout of grass or hay. — Ut strepitum 
rugientis aquce audivit — monticulum foeni quod extra tugurium erat, 
velociter ascendit. Impetus autem irruentis et omnia involventis 
aquce foenum sublevavit, et de loco illo mullonem hue etillucfiuctu- 
antem longe transtulit. Order. Vital. 1. 13, p. 899. — Ipse Roberlus 
et omnes alii custumarii domince liber am falcatam in prato vocato 
Gilberdsham sine prandio debent tornare, et inde foenum levare, et 
mulliones inde facer e, K. p. 401. — Alicia qucefuit uxor Richardi le 
Grey—faciet unam saculaturam, et unam wedbedripam, et levatio- 
nem foeni, et inveniet unum hominem ad mullionem foeni faciendum , 
K. p. 402. Hence in old Eng. a Moult, now a Mow, Sax. COope, 
of hay or corn. 

Multo, Mutilo, Molto, Muto, Mutto. A Mutton or sheep. 
Several ridiculous derivations are given of this word. Joh. de Gar- 
landia from Mutus, dumb. Et cum sit mutus, poterit bene muto 
vocari. Menagius from Mons, as if creatures that fed chiefly in 
the mountains. Ferrarius would fetch it a Montando, because for- 
sooth the venereal rams do mount or cover the ews. And Dr. 
Skinner with like modesty from the old Lat. Muto, the yard of a 
man or beast, as if rams of all creatures were best provided in that 
member. I suppose the original was British ; for Molt in the pre- 
sent Irish tongue signifies a ram, or male wether, to which the Lat. 
Multo isalway restrained, and does not extend to the female sheep 
or ewe, — quatuor boves,sex mutilones, K. p. 287- — Inter Hokeday 
et diem S. Martini bene possunt ibidem ducentcc quadraginta mut- 
tones sustentari ad opus domini ad terram suam compostandam, K. 
p. 495. — In stauro sunt lii. matres oves, xxxv. multor.es, xii. agni 
mares, et xiv. agni feminales. — xxxii. oves lactrices, iii. multones, 
xl. oves otiosas, i. e. thirty-two milch ews, three rams or wethers, 
fourty barren ews. Cartul. Abbat. Glaston. MS, f. 39. Hence the 
gold mony impressed with an Agnus Dei on one side, were from 
that figure called Multones, which were common in France, and 
current in England, as appears by a patent 33 Edw. III. cited by 
the learned Spelman, though he had not then considered the mean- 
ing of it. Rex tenetur'Ottoni de Grandisono in decern millibus mul- 



104 GLOSSARY. 

tonum auri. And hence the military engine like the Roman bat- 
tering ram is called Monton by Frosart, Hist. vol. 3, cap. 102. 

Muedredum, Murdrum, Murdrum. Murder, from Sax. CCopb, 
death, Island. Mord. By the laws of Edw. Confess, cap. 15. If 
any person was murdred, the murderer was to be apprehended by 
the friborg where the body was found, and delivered up to justice. 
If he could not be immediately taken, a respite of one month and 
a day was allowed to the said inhabitants; and if he was not then 
produced, a fine was imposed upon them of fourty-six marks; of 
which sum, by the laws of Hen. I. cap. 9 1 , fourty marks were paid 
to the king, and six to the nearest relations of the party murdred. 
So that Quietum esse a murdredo was an exemption from this fine, 
and was a special privilege granted to the tenants within the honor 
of Walingford, ~ JJt quieti slnt de murdredis et de variis ad murdre- 
dum perdnentibus, K. p. 114. 

Murdrum opera. do. The service of work and labour done by 
inhabitants and inferiour tenants in building and repairing the walls 
of a city or fortress. From which duty some were exempted by 
special privilege. So King Hen. II. granted to the tenants within 
the honor of Walingford — ut quieti sint de operationibus castello- 
rum et vmrorum, K. p. 1 14. For which expence a tax was levied 
called Murage. Whence those officers who in the city of Chester 
are to supervise and repair the city walls, are now called Muren- 
gers. 

Musivum opus. Musaic, and corruptly Mosaic work. Pavi- 
menta tessellata, Pavements of curious little pieces of brick, or tile, 
or marble, about the bigness and form of dice, with which the Ro- 
mans generally paved the place where they fixed the pretorium or 
general's tent : of which several have been ploughed up in this 
county, K. p. 12. Fr. Junius cites this account of them from a 
MS. Saxon Glossary of Laurence Noel, — " Musaike work, which 
is a kind of ornament made in picture with little square stones like 
dies of all colours, set together with certain fine cyment upon a 
wall or floor, so that the forms of things be therewith pourtrayed 
and expressed as though they were paynted. Also it is more dura- 
ble than any kind of pay n ting, by reason that neither by weather, 
wearing, nor washing, the colour can be taken away, which hath 
the thickness of the little dies wherewith this work is made. Of 
this kind of work is little in England. Howbeit I have seen of it, 
especially upon church -floors before altars, as is to be seen before 
the high altar at Westminster, although it be but gross. In Italy 
it is almost every where, and in most churches to be met." 

Muto, mutate. To Mew up hauks in the time of their Muting 



GLOSSARY. 105 

or Molting, or casting their plumes. Hence the Muta Regia, the 
Mews near Charing Crqss in London, now the king's stables, for- 
merly the falconry or place for the king's hawks. The mannor of 
Broughton com. Oxon. in reign of Edw. II. was held by John 
Mauduit — per serjaniiam mutandi iinum hostricum domini regis, 
vel ilium hostrivmn portandi ad curiam domini regis, K. p. 56q. 

My cher. A sordid covetous extortioner. " In such feyrs and 
markets wbersoever it be holden, therben many theyves, mychers, 
and cut purse," K.p. 613. 

Myllewell. A sort offish, the same with what now in Lan- 
cashire is called Milwyn, which Spelman renders green fish, but it 
was certainly of a different kind. — Et in tribus copulis viridis piscis, 
et in xv. copulis de Myllewell minoris sortis x. sol. vi. den. et in xx. 
Myllewell majoris sortis xii. sol. K. p. 5J5. 

N. 

Natio. A native place. The jurors of the borough of Wa- 
lingford return upon oath — quod nullus denatione istius lurgi pro 
quocun que facto quodfecerit debet suspendi, imo secundum consuetu- 
dinem istius burgi debet oculis et testibus privari, K. p. 258. 

Nativus, A servant or villane by birth and descent from ser- 
vile tenants.—- Servi aut nascuntur, aut jiunt ; nascuntur autem ex 
nativo et naliva alicujus copulatis vel solutis. — Item nascilur seruus, 
qui ex nativa soluta generalur y quamvis ex patre libero, quia sequi- 
tur conditionem malris, quasi vulgo conceptus. Bracton, 1. 1, cap. 6, 
sect. 4. — Terrain Willitlmi Hamond nativi domince — Nicholai Sa- 
ford nativi domino;, K. p. 397. — Rogerus Mortimer nativus prioris 
de Berencester, K. p. 403. — Cum omnibus servitiis liberorum homi- 
num et nativorum de Heyford et Caldecote cum corporibus dictorum 
nativorum catallis et eorum sequelis, K.p. 514. Hence the old 
Eng. Neife, a bond- woman, mentioned stat. 9 Rich. II. cap. 2, and 
1 Edw. VI. cap. 3. 

Navis, Navicula. A Caster or small silver dish to hold the 
frankincense, before it was put into the thuribulum or smoaking- 
pot. — Inter ecclesice omamenta — turribulum cum navi, K. p. 598. 
It seems so called from the shape resembling a boat or little ship, 
as a Cogue of brandy from the like reason. Fid. Cock-boat. 

Ad Nonam. At the ninth hour by Roman computation, i. e. 
at three in the afternoon. Vescitur ac nona merenda messor in hora. 
— Ilia die comedent iidem homines, et omnes died messores cum do- 
mino ad nonam, et prcefati homines, et non messores eodem die cum 
domino coenabunt, K. p. 320. The monks and other religious had 
their Refectionem Nonce, or Biberes Nonales, properly their dinner. 



106 GLOSSARY. 

— No?i licet clericis ante horam tertiam prandere. Can. cit. a SpeJ- 
man. Which Biheres or refection given to school-boys and chil- 
dren about three after-noon, we still call a drinking. It was 
from this Nona, formerly the chief eating time, we take our word 
Noon, though removed to another hour. And it is from hence that 
in Kent a Noonchion or Nunchion of bread or any edible is a great 
piece, enough to serve for the Nooning or dinner of any common 
eater. 

Nuces colligere. To gather small or hazle nuts. One of the 
works or services imposed upon inferiour tenants. — Homines de 
Hedingdon uno die colligent nuces nomine domini in Iosco qui vaca- 
tur Slowode, K. p. 320. Homines de Pydinton per unum diem col- 
ligent nuces ad opus domini in bosco suo cum uno homine, K. p. 4Q5. 

Nutrimentum. Breed of cattle — Quilibet custumarius domi- 
nee non debet vender e equum masculum neque bovem de proprio nu- 
trimento suo, K. p. 401. 

O. 

Oblationes Altaris. Oblations or offerings from the parish- 
ioners to the parish priest were solemnly made four times in a year. 
— Ordinavimus eidem vicario (i* e. de Oakle) omnes oblationes quce 
quater in anno ab omnibus parochianis ofjeruntur, K. p. 455. The 
custumary oblations at Burcester in the ordination of that vica- 
rage about the year 1212, were one penny for a burial, one penny 
for a marriage, one penny for churching a woman : and the altar 
or sacrament offerings were three- pence at Christmas, two-pence 
at Easter, and a penny at the two other principal feasts, besides the 
offerings at confession, K. p. 559. Among the altar oblations were 
reckoned the little sums paid for saying masses and prayers for the 
souls of the deceased. As in the churches appropriated to the abby 
of Oseney, — Vicarius habebit de oblationibus ad altare provenienti- 
lus unum denarium, missale quoties cetebraverit, et denarius pro- 
venerit, et quicquid ex devotione Jidelium et rationabiliter fuerit col- 
latum, K. p. 304. 

Oblationes Funerales. If the corps of the party deceased was 
carried from the mother church to any other place of sepulture, 
there were custumary offerings due to the parish priest where the 
party died : of which offerings the sordid appropriators sometimes 
engrost three parts, and allowed only one to the oppressed vicar. — 
Ordinavimus eidem vicario (Le.de Oakle) quartam partem omnium 
obventionum funeralium dktorum parochianorum alibi quam apud 
Acleiaih sepultorum quce de jure vet ere vel novo debentur ecclesice 
parochiali, K. p. 455. At the burial of the dead, it wa3 a custom 



GLOSSARY. 107 

for the surviving friends to offer liberally at the altar for the pious 
use of the priest, and the good estate of the soul of the deceased, 
which the appropriators were sometimes so just as to allow the vicar, 
— O nines oblationes in nuptiis, purification: bus, sepulturis, anniver- 
sariis, K. p. 455. This pious custom does still obtain in North- 
Wales, where at the rails which decently defend the communion 
table, I have seen a small tablet or flat board conveniently fixt, to 
receive the money which at every funeral is offered by the surviv- 
ing friends, according to their own ability, and the quality of the 
party deceased. Which seems a providential augmentation to some 
of those poor churches. 

QcTAVirs. The Octaves, in old Eng. the Uras, or eight days 
after any festival, for the observation whereof Alcuinus gives this 
reason, — Octavce, quas hodie colimus, idea rever enter cdebrantur, 
quia primis diebus concurrunt sicuti anus dies dominicus ad alterum, 
qui eadem die celebratur. — Infra octavas, within the said term of 
eight days. They were only some prime and remarkable feasts 
which were thus attended with Octaves, which feasts are enume- 
rated in the laws of Edw. Confess, cap. 12. — Ecclesia de S. Fride- 
swidce annuatim persolvet ecclesice de Cages duos solidos vet Bisan- 
tium unum infra octavas S. Michaelis, K. p. 123. 

Ofiiciarius Episcopi. The bishop's chancellor or official in 
his court Christian. —Idem Ychelus ipsum abbatem ea de causa jam- 
in curiam christianitatis coram officiario diocaesani prcedicti trahit 
in placitum, K. p. 328. 

Officinje. Wash-house, brew-house, and what we call out- 
offices. — Capitale messuagium valet per annum cum tola inclausa 
us. et non plus, salva reprisa domorum et aliarum ojficinarum, K. 
p. 3J4. 

Opera. Works or services done by vassals or tenants in bon- 
dage to the lord. — Johannes propositus tenet unam virgatam terrce 
arabilis de Bardulpho,et debet opera quce valent quolibet anno xiiis. 
ivd. ob. q. K. p. 3 18. But servile tenants had their wives and their 
ihephards excused from these labours. Vid. Pastor. 

Operatio. One day's work performed by such inferiour te- 
nants. — Homines de Hedingdon facient Hugoni et hceredibus suis pro 
qualibet virgata terrcv sexdecim operationes, videlicet, uno die inter 
festum, t&c. K. p. 320. 

Opilio. A poor person or indigent beggar. — Et in datis opilioni 
de Crockwell in die S. Valentini martyris \\.den. — et in datis duo- 
bus opilionibus nden. K. p. 5/8. 

Ordeal. From Sax. Op, great, and Dele, judgement. The old 
judicial custom of proving the guilt, or attesting the innocence, of 
parties accused, chiefly by water or hot iron. As Queen Emma 



108 GLOSSARY, 

submitted to the walking blinded and barefoot over nine hot plough- 
shares laid at an unequal distance, and thereby purged herself 'from 
the charge of incontinence, K. p 53. This was simply called /«- 
dkium in opposition to Bellum, duel or camp-fight, which was the 
other custumary purgation : and neither of them was abolished by 
Will. Conq. though Sir W. T. does so assert. Vid. Bellum. Ser- 
vants or other deputies might undergo this trial in the cause and 
name of their masters, especially of those lords who were bishops 
and ecclesiastical men. As in time of Will. Rufus Remigius episc. 
Lincoln, de regia proditione aliquando accusatus, sed famulus suus 
igniti judicio Jerri dominum purgans, regio amori restituit. Mat. Par. 
sub an. 1085. — So Brien Fitz Count in his challenge to Henry bi- 
shop of Winchester, an. 1 144, — Contra Henricum prcesto sum pro- 
hare vel hello vel judicio per unum clericum, vel per unwm laicum, 
K. p. ]01. 

Ordinarius. He that has the ordinary jurisdiction in eccle- 
siastical matters, as the bishop of a diocese, &c. Richardus de 
Gravesend quondam Lincolnice episcopus loci illius ordinarius , et ad- 
vocatus prcedictce abbatice, K. p. 351. 

Ordines. A general chapter, or other solemn convention of 
the religious of such a particular order. — Et in solutis frairibus Ro- 
berto Lawton et JVillielmo Meriton pro suis expensis versus ordines 
existentes apud Hygham- Ferrers ante Jest um S. Michaelis hoc anno 
vii. sol. K. p. 5/6. 

Ordinum Fugitivi. Those of the religious who deserted their 
houses, and renounced their orders in contempt of their oath and 
other duty. The favouring and protecting such fugitives was 
charged on Thomas earl of Lancaster. — Ordinum fugitivos, legisque 
transgressores, ne lege plecterentur, per tinacit er f over e, K. p. 388. 



Pakthred. Pack-thread. From old Teuton. Pack, a bundle j 
Packen, to make up a load or burden. Hence a Pack-horse, a Pack- 
saddle, a Pack-needle, to Pack up, a Packer of cloath, to Pack 
away, &c. And possibly from hence the Sax. Pocca, Island. Poke, 
Eng. Poke or bag, and Poket or Pocket. In the east riding of 
Yorkshire Poke is the general word applied to all measures, as a 
Met-poke, a three bushel Poke, &c. Perhaps from Pack or Packed 
may come by abbreviation a Pad or bundle, a Pad of straw, to Pad 
or to bind up. But a Pad or horse, and a Padder or high-way man, 
are more plainly from the Sax. Paab, a path or way. — Et in octo 
snoden de Pakthred emptis ibidem pro quodam reti faciendo, K. 
p. 574. 



GLOSSARY* 109 

Palafredus, Palfridus. A Lat. Paraveredus , a Palfry or sad- 
die-horse. This was commonly part of the fine or composition 
with the king for seisin or livery of an estate. Richard de Camvill 
gave two thousand marks and ten palfries for the inheritance of his 
wife Eustace Basset, K. p. 167. This seemed a remainder of the 
old custom of paying the relief in horse and arms, as a proper badge 
of military service, till in 27 Hen. II. there was a commutation 
of mony for the arms, but the horses or part of them were still de- 
livered in specie. A Palfry was part of the fine or penalty im- 
posed for a transgression against the king. So Robert de Peesley 
paid sixty marks and one Palfry, to be reconciled to the king for the 
offence of marrying without the king's consent, K. p. 161. A 
Palfry was paid to the king for license to obtain a trial for the right 
of lands, — Abbas de Egnesham debet unum palefridum pro habenda 
recognitione duodecim legcdium hominum, K. p. 168. At the death 
of every bishop and abbat who held in barony, a Palfry of the de- 
ceased was part of the heriot to the king, — Obiit abbas de Oseneia, 
petiit escaetor ad opus domini regis cupam et palefridum died abba- 
tis, K. p. 330. 

Parous. A Park. From Fr. Pare or Parque, or rather Sax. 
Peajipoc and Peanpuc, an inclosure. John Ross of Warwick as- 
serts the first park in England to have been made by Hen. I. at 
Woodstock, an. \ 119, K. p. 87. But Spelman proves from the 
Doomsday-book and other authorities, there were parks in the time 
of the Saxons, who called them Denepalb, i. e. Deer-fold. Par- 
cagium was a contribution paid by adjoining tenants toward repair 
of the walls, pales, or other mounds of a park. Operationes Par- 
corum were so many days work for that purpose. An exemption 
from this duty was granted as a special privilege to the tenants 
within the honor of Walingford, — ut quieti sint de operationibus 
castellorum et—-parcorum, K. p. 114. 

Pandoxatus, Pandoxata, Pandoxator, Pandoxalrix. An Inn- 
keeper, or Alehouse-keeper, from Gr. Havhy^ziov , Hospitiuin, — 
Et in cervisiis videlicet exxxii. lagenls et dimidia emptis de Johanna 
Spinan, Alicia Bedale, et aliis pandoxatis, ut patet per bullam iv.sol. 
x. den. K. p. 574. 

Parroc. Sax. Peappoc, a Parrock, Paddock, or Puddock, a 
small Park or enclosure near a house or chief seat for the conveni- 
ence of securing deer, to be turned out and hunted. In the dona- 
tion of Gilbert Basset to the priory of Burcester, — Duce acrce et 
dimidia quce vertuntur in Parroc, K. p. 136. Whence a Pattock 
or Paddock-course. 

Parcella Honoris vel Manerii. When one parish or hamlet 
pertains to another honor or mannor as a part or parcel of it. — Jo- 



110 GLOSSARY. 

hannes de la. Vache—seisitus de manerio de Hokenorton, cum perti- 
nentiis. — Johannes Trillowe seisitus de Chesterton in dominico suo ut 
defeodo unde prccdictus locus est parcella, K. p. 580. Terra et bos- 
cus in Rytherjield Grey tenentur de abbate de Abingdon ut parcellum 
defeodo de Padenale, K. p. 617. It was to this Parcelling of ba- 
ronies and mannors that it now happens we have part of one pa- 
rish remote and incompast in another; and whole parishes belong- 
ing to one county lie out of the common extent,, and within the very 
bowels of some other county. 

Parochia. The word to be understood a Diocese not a Parish 
in that expression, — Honorius provinciam suam in parochias divisit, 
K. p. 586. The beginning and gradual advance of parishes and pa- 
rish churches, K. p. 587- 

Parochianus. A compellation given by a bishop to any person 
living within his diocese and jurisdiction, — Alexander Lincolniensis 
episcopus Guidoni de Charing par ochiano suo, K. p. 90. 

Particula. A slip or small parcel. Simon de Gerafdmulin 
gave to the abby of Missenden the chappel of Holy Cross at Pi- 
dington, and — quandam parliculam nemoris quce est inter eandem 
capellam et nemus de Bruhelle, K . p. 108. 

Pasnage, Pannage, Panonage. Lat. Pastio, Pastionaticum, 
Pastinaticum, Pasnagium, Pannagium. From the Fr. Pasnag, Lat. 
Pasco, the feeding of hogs : or from the old Eng. Pawns, i. e. the 
mast of beech and oak, and fruit of other forest trees. Cowel gives 
it a much harder derivation from Fr. Pancz or Panels, the root of 
wild parsnip. And it is rio less absurd in Dr. Skinner to deduce it 
from the Fr. Pain, or Lat. Pauls, bread or other food. Pannagium 
had a double acceptation, first for the running and feeding of hogs 
within a forest : secondly, for the price or rate paid for their so 
running. Liberum aut quiet um pannagium, was free Pannage, or 
liberty of hogs running within the limits of such forest or woods ; 
a privilege granted to some private persons, and to several religious 
houses. Aubry earl of Damarun confirmed to the abby of Missen- 
den the hermitage of Musewell, — et pasnagium quietum dt suis 
dominicis porcis, K. p. 131. Sir William Fitz-Elias granted to Ali- 
cia de Maydwell — heybotum et housbotum in dominicis boscis de 
Akle ad porcorias suas faciendas ubi sibi placuerit, et ad habeiidos 
porcos suos cjuiefos de pannagio, K. p. 259. Gilbert Basset granted 
to his new priory at Burcester — quiet anliam de pasnagio, K. p. 135. 
The price of Pannage within the liberties of the abby of Battle, 
com. Suss. wa<= two-pence for every hog of full age. So at Esta- 
plesin Picardy, two pence for every grown hog, and two deniers 
for a little hog, (which young hog of the first year we call in Kent 
a Sheat, and in Sussex a Shote) to be paid on St. Andrew's day. 



GLOSSARY. 1 1 1 

In Scotland the tithe or tenth hog was paid for Pannage : as in 
those forest laws, — Iste autem est modus pannagii, videlicet de qua- 
libet cindre, id est de decern porcis, rex habebit meliorem porcum, et 
forestarius unum hogastrum. This custom obtained in England, 
and was here called Tack, — Dalit pannngium vocatum Tack, vide- 
licet, pro decern porcis unum porcum meliorem, et si non hahet de- 
cern, dabit domino decimum denarium porcorum suorum cum appre- 
tiati fuerint per vicinos suos. Ex Lib. Baroniae de Shereborn MS. 
In 19 Hen. III. the four agistors within the forest of Bernwode 
were obliged to take care of the running hogs from Holy Rood day 
to fourty days after Michaelmass, and then to take the Pannage of 
one farthing for every hog, K. p. 21 9. If the Pannage were not 
duely paid, there was a process from the Exchequer, and distraint 
by the sheriff, — Quia constat per inspectionem rotulorum de Scacca- 
rio — decent de pannagio — Mandatum est vicecom. ut distringat ip- 
sos vel hceredes vel tenentes terras eorum ad reddendas regiportiones 
ipsos contingentes de prcedictis denariis, K. p. 259. The tithe of 
Pasnage was sometimes alienated from the parish priest to the ap- 
propriators. As the tithe of Pannage at Musewell within the parish 
of Ambrosden was granted to the abby of Missenden as a part of 
the endowment of their cell or hermitage of Holy Cross at Muse- 
well, K. p. 75. And so confirmed by William king of Scots, 13 
Hen. II. — cum tota decima de dominio de Pedyngton in omnibus 
rebus quae decimari debent, et de decima de padsnagio, K. p. 124. 

Passagium. A tribute or toll paid by travellers or passengers 
for the repair and maintenance of some road or passage : from 
which contribution some were by special privilege exempted. As 
King Hen. II. granted to the tenants and traders within the honor 
of Walingford, — Ut quieti sint de thelonio, pontagio, passagio, — 
K. p. 114. 

Passagium. A channel or d'ke cut for a water course on the 
side of a river, or a weer for fish. So Wido de Meriton to the 
Knights Templars, — Dedi — omnes percapturas quasfratres incebe- 
runt versus me in facie ndo passagium suum, K. p. 120. 

Pastor. A Shepard. When in feriour tenants were obliged to 
bring themselves and their whole family to do work and services 
for the lord, an exception was made of their wives and their shep- 
herds, as also of the cow-herds : for this reason, that the first mio-ht 
alway attend their houses, and the other their flocks and herds. 
So the tenants in Hedingdon, — tribus diebus autumpno rnetent bla- 
da domini sumptibus ejusdem domini, primo scilicet die cum omnibus 
famulis suis, exceptis uxoribus et pastoribus suis, K. p. 3 20. — 4?um 
totafamilia sua prceter uxorem suam, K. p. 40 1. — Sunt ibi sexde- 
cim cotarii, quorum alii sunt bubulci domini, alii sunt pastores } qui 



112 GLOSSARY. 

si non esscnt, deleret quilibet unum opus singulis septimanis per an* 
num. Cartul. Abbat. Glaston. MS. f. 40. 

Patronus. The advocate or patron of a church, who had Jus 
Patronatus the right of advouson, which was at first acquired by- 
endowing a parochial church at the foundation of it with manse 
and glebe, which endowment was generally made by the lord of 
the mannor, to which piety we owe the original of Lay Patrons, 
K. p. 222. The Patrons for a mark of honour had precedence in 
their own churches, and in all solemn processions within the limits 
of the parish, wherein they had a right of carrying the chief flag, 
or first colours, K.p. 425., 507. No other lay men but the pa- 
tron only was to be admitted within the bars or partition of the 
chancel from the nave of the church, in time of divine service. 
u4d hcec adjicimus ne laid stent vel sedeant inter clericos in cancello 
dum divina ibidem celebrantur, nisi forte ob reverentiam vel aliam 
rationabilem causam et manifestam. Hoc solum patronis permitti- 
tur. Constit. Rob. Episc. Line. MS. 

Pax Jirma. Peace and freedom from arrest, or any other mo- 
lestation. Henry bishop of Winchester to Brien Fitz-Count lord 
of Walingford. — Firmam pacem omnibus adferiam meam venienti" 
bus a vobis et vestris dari qucesierim, K.p. 100. 

Pec i a, Petia. A Piece or small parcel of ground. — Cum dua- 
buspeciis — dictce terrce pertinenlibus, K. p. 240, Whence to Piece 
and to Patch. 

Peltys. Lat. Pelves. Pelts or sheep- skins when the wool is 
off. Germ. Peltz. Hence the Pelt-rot, when sheep dye of po- 
verty or ill keeping. Pelt in falconry is the skin of a fowl stuff, 
or any carcase of a dead fowl thrown to the hawks. — Computant 
de tribus solidis, uno denario, ob. receptis de xv. Peltys bidentum de 
stauro necatarum in hospitio inter tonsuram etfestum S. Michaelis, 
K. p. 5/2. The Lat. Peltis was in Sax. Fael and jreelc, whence our 
Fellmonger who dresses the skins. A Felt or hat made of courser 
wool. Pelvis in old Eng. a Pelt, was likewise a leathern bag made 
of sheep skin, in which they carried salt, &c. — Homines de Dukele- 
church debent habere unum baconem de tribus solidis, et duos caseos, 
et duas pelves plenas salis, et duas summas de ligno. Cartul. Abbat. 
Glaston. MS. f. 40. 

Pentecostalia. Pentecostals or Whitsun-contributions, that 
were allotted to the bishops, and are still paid in some few dioceses: 
of which the first occasion was possibly owing to the oblations 
made to the cathedral church at that season of the year, K. p. 597. 

Percaftuea. A wire, a fishery, or place in a river made up 
for the better convenience of preserving and taking fish. Of which 
kind there were several artificially contrived in most waters and 



GLOSSARY. I 13 

streams. So Wido de Meriton granted to the Knights Templars 
Omnes percapturas quas fratres inceperunt versus me in faciendo 
passagium suum, K. p. 120. 

Perttca. A Perch, which in the reign of King John was the 
measure of twenty foot, and was the same as Virga, — Qucelibet 
virga, unde quarantance mensurabuntur , erit viginti pedum. Mon. 
Ang. torn. 3. p. 1(5. So in 33 Edw. I. — quadragenas unam acras 
et unam rodam et dimidiam per perticas viginti pedum, K. p. 350. 
But now commonly a Perch, a Rod, a Pole, in Wiltshire a Log, is 
sixteen foot and a half in length, whereof fourty in length and four 
in breadth make one acre of ground. Yet there is no such fixt 
standard, but that it differs by custom in several counties. 

Picagium. Picage. A custom or duty paid at fairs and markets 
for breaking the ground and pitching of stalls and standings. From 
Lat. Pica, Fr. Pic, Eng. Pick, Pick-ax, and in Sussex a Pitch, old 
Eng. Pekois. Whence to Pick, or Peck, a Picker, a Pecker, to 
Pitch down, to Pitch up, a Pitch-fork, in Wiltshire a Pick, a soul- 
dier's Pike, a Peek or high top, as a woman's Peak, the Peak of 
Derby, &c To have a Pique or quarrel, to be Piquant, &c — 
King Hen. II. granted to the tenants within the honor of Waling- 
ford — ut quieti sint de thelonio, pontagio, passagio, et picagio, K. 
p. 1 14. The profit of Picage was generally granted in charters for 
the holding a fair or market, 19 Hen. VI. Rex concessit Roberto 
Brook — picagium, stallagium, bothagium, et tollagium, una cum as- 
sisa panis et cervince de novo mercato infra villam de Burcester t 
K. p. 680. 

Pietantia. A Pietance or Pittance, or allowance of bread and 
beer, or other provision to any pious use, especially to the religious 
for an augmentation of their commons, — Quos quidem quatuor 
solidos — attornavi ad unam pietantiam in conventu Oseneiensi annu- 
atim in perpetuum in die anniversarii mei obitus pro anima mea, 
K. p. 283. From the Lat. Pietas comes our Pitty, which Duglass 
calls Pietie, thence Petans, Piteous, Pitiful, &c. 

Piscaria. A Fishery, or Were, wear or wire, Sax. Paert. Ber- 
nard de S. Walery granted to the nuns of Godestow, — unam pisca- 
riam de Werehama, K. p. 128. 

Placia. A Place or plat of ground, commonly the site of a 
house or other buildings. In Yorkshire and Lancashire a Plack, 
from Sax. Plaece. Whence the court or principal seat in a village 
is in several parts of England called the Place, and Place-house. 
Yngeram de Kirtiinton gave to the prior and canons of Burcester, 
— totam Mam placiam quae se extendit, — K. p. 208, — cum quadam 
placia terrcG, K. p. 258. 

Placitum. A Plea, Suit, or Trial. Whence Pleas of the crown, 

i 



114 GLOSSARY. 

common Pleas, Pleading, Pleader, &c. Placitum mot urn flit inter 
dittos reiigiosos et nos, K. p 285. In Placitum trahere, To pro- 
secute or cite into any court of justice Idem Ychelus ip urn abba- 
tern ea de causa jam in curiam cHristianitatis coram officiario dicece- 
shni prcpdicti trahit in placitum, ipsum multipliciter ibidem inquie- 
tando, K. p. 328 Placitum conventionis, A composition or final 
agreement of a depending suit by mutual compact — Unde. placitum 
conventionis sumntum fuit inter eos in eade/n curia, scilicet quod 
preedicti* tsfc K p. 286, Concordia facta in curia d<>m\ni regis — 
unde placitum conventionis sumptwn fuit inter eos in eadetn curia, 
K p. 321. 

Planum. Plain or open ground, opposed to woods and coppices. 

— Communionem pastures tarn in bosco quam in piano. K. p. yd. 

— In viis et planis, in aquis et molendinis, K. p. 187- Hence a 
Plane or instrument of Planing, a Plat, Plot, or smooth place, the 
Plan or Plat- form of a building. A Plate; Platter, a Plash of water, 
to Plash or cut down, Plat-footed, &-c. And what we now call 
the Blade of a sword or knife, wa s formerly termed the Plat. 

Plebania. A mo her church with depending chappels, thus 
defined by the old canonists, — Plebania est aliud. genus leneficii, et 
majus quam rectoria, habet sub se capellas. et dignit item esse putant 
interpretes. Syntag. Juris 1 15, cap. 24 K. p. 589 

Plows ho. The plate of iron that is a shoe or defence to the 
bottom of the plough, as wheels are said to be Shod or Shoed, 
when they are guarded with iron. — Pro uno vomere et una cultura 
et dimidia Toughe cum uno Plowsho emptis xxiii. den, K. p 549. 
A Plough, by the Alemans called Pluck and Plug, by the Danes 
Ptoug, by the Dutch Ptoeg, by the Anglo Saxons Sul, whence the 
aratrum now in Wiltshire is called a Sullow, and the word Plough 
is there attributed to any other waggon or carriage. But no question 
the Saxons had likewise the word Plucce for a Plough, and their 
Pluccian, our to Pluck, was originally to draw or pull along the 
Plough, which by metaphor was applied to any other sort of 
plucking or pulling. To this we owe a Plug or piece of wood to 
stop a hole, and to be Plugged or pulled out at pleasure. 

Plurality of Ecclesiastical Benefices. This corruption so great 
in the reign of Edw. I. that Bogo de Clare rector of St Peter's 
within the city of Oxford, was resented by the earl of Glocester 
to the church of Wiston, com. Northamp. and obtained leave to 
hold it with one church in Ireland, and fourteen other churches in 
England, all which benefices were valued at 238/. 6s. 8d. K. p 292. 

Pontagium. Pontage, a toll or custom paid by travellers or 
passengers over a bridge toward the repair and maintenance of it. 
King Hen. II. granted to the tenants and traders within the honor 



GLOSSARY. 115 

of Walingford and Rercamsted — ut quieti slnt de thelonio, ponta- 
gio, passagio tsfc. K. p. 114. This privilege some donors called 
Pontem Liberum, as to the prior and canons of Burcester at their 
mill in Kirtlington, — Concessi etiam dictis canonicis quod haleant 
pontem liberum ultra aquam ad bladum cariondum, K. p. 201. It 
is a good pious custom that still obtains in Ireland, where the natives 
at passing over any bridge, pull off their hats, or give some other 
token of respect, and pray for the soul of the builder of that bridge. 

Pontium operationes. The custumary service of work and 
labour done by inferiour tenants for making and repairing of 
bridges : from which servile duty some persons were by special 
privilege exempted, as the tenants within the honor of Walingford 
were, — quieti de opcrationibus castellorum et pontium, K. p. 1 14. 

Porcus. A Swine, Sax. Spyn, a Hog, called a Porker, espe- 
cially in those counties where sheep of the first or second year are 
called Hogs, and Hoggrels. — Dare porcos in bosco, to grant pan- 
nage or free running of hogs in such a wood or forest, — Ego Ri- 
cardus le Bigod de Merston dedi canonicis de Nuttele quadraginta 
porcos in bosco meo, K. p. 220. 

Porcoria, called in Lindwood Porcitecum. A Hogstie, which 
in the North is called a Swinhull, and a Swine-crue. In the woods 
and forests where the hogs run for pannage, there were several of 
those Porcorice or huts, where the Swine-herds at night secured 
their drove of hogs. — Concessi Alicice heybotum et housbotum in do- 
minicis boscis meis de Acle ad faciendas porcorias suas in boscis pros- 
dictis, K. p. 259. ; — In maneriode Dorcestre — summa reddituum por- 
coriarum et bercariarum sifuerinl ad fir mam vs. \\d. K. p. 354. 

Portmota. Sax. Pojit- gemote, a Portmote, Port-meeting, or 
convention of the inhabitants of a port or borough, in which some 
custumary dues were paid to the lord of the fee. The prior and 
bursar of Burcester in 3 Hen. VI. accounted — defirma manerii de 
Clyfton — cum extentis curiarum, portmotis, et tolnelo fori, K.p.570. 

Postulatio. A Postulation made upon the unanimous elect- 
ing of any person to a dignity or office, of which he is not capa- 
ble by the ordinary canons or statutes, without special dispensation. 
So a chapter postulated for a bishop actually possest of another see. 
And the religious postulated for a prelate to be taken from another 
convent. — Johannes supprior de Berencester a canonicis de Chet- 
wode postulatur, K. p. 257- An election could be made by a 
majority of votes, but a postulation must have been Nemine contra- 
dicente. 

Potagium. Pottage or liquid broth, of which Porridge and Pos- 
set are evidently corruptions, though Dr. Skinner violently fetches 
Porridge from Lat. Porrus, an onion, because forsooth the Romans 



116 



GLOSSARY. 



put leeks in their brolh ; and Posset from the Fr. Poser, to settle, 
because the curdled or coagulated parts do fix or settle. It is pitty 
men's wit should be so much above their judgement. — From hence 
a Porringer or Pottage-dish, formerly called a Pottenger, and the 
smaller continent which we now call a Pipkin was formerly a Pos- 
net. The appropriators were sometimes so liberal as to allow peas- 
porridge »o the vicar. So the prior and canons of St. Frideswide 
to the vicar of Oakle, — unum qunrterium pisarum de melioribus 
died manerii sui pro potato suo, K. p. 455. 

Pkatunculum. A ham or little meadow, which word Mea- 
dow, Sax. Opebe, Fr. Junius derives from the old Teuton. Maden, 
to mow, and says the Danes call a Mede or Meadow Meaie, the 
Dutch May-land, and the old Frisians Miede. Gilbert Basset in 
his foundation charter to the priory of Burcester, gives — quoddam 
pratuuculum quod vacatur Hamma, K p. 135. 

Pr^benda. A Prebend, an endowment in land, or pension in 
money, giw n to a cathedral or conventual church in prcebendam, 
i. e, for a maintenance of a secular priest or regular canon, who 
was a Prcpbendary as supported by the said Prebend. Twelve shil- 
lings per an. was given out of the mannor of Hedingdon for a Pre- 
bend in the conventual church of Oseney, and was continued a 
rent charge upon the whole mannor, K. p. 334. Ecclesia Prceben- 
dalis, a church appropriated to a cathedral or religious house, the 
profits whereof were assigned for a prebend either in gross to the 
whole society, or to some particular member. — Prior et conventus 
de Burncester dirniserunt ecclesia m prebendalem de Sotton cum ca- 
pel/a de Bokyngham, K. p. 342. Prcebenda in profane and com- 
mon acceptation was any sort of allowance or provender for cattel. 
As. the prior and canons of St. Frideswide gave to the vicar of 
Oakle duo quarteria frumenti pro prebenda equi sui, et decimam 
foeni de Lathmede pro for agio suo, K. p 455. — Vicarius de Bur- 
cester habebit j'oenum et prebendam ad equum unum de prioratu, 
K. p. 559. 

Prjeceptoria. A Preceptory, or commanderie. As the larger 
monasteries had their remote country cells which were subordinate 
to the mother house of religion : so the Knights Templars and Hos- 
pitalers sent part of their fraternity to some country cell governed 
by a preceptor or commaudour, and thence called a Preceptorie 
or Commanderie, all which were subject and accountable to the 
prime body who had their principal seats in London. So the pre- 
ceptorie of Sandford com. Oxon. — Hoc factum est tempore fratris 
Johannis existentis prceceptoris de Covele, K. p. 121. 

Propositus Manerii. The bayliffor steward of a mannor, who 
was to collect the rents, to levy distresses, to prevent trespasses, to 



GLOSSARY. 117 

keep the peace, and to do all the offices of equity and right between 
the lord and tenants. — Computavit Johannes Canon propositus de 
Clifton de manerio de Clifton, K. p. 287 — Sibilia Jttia IValteri 
fllii propositi de Pyria, K, p. 327. — Nicholaus propositus de By- 
genhuli, K. p. 202, 203 This provost or steward of a mannorwas 
elected by all the tenants at the lord's court, and there took an oath 
of impartial fidelity in his office. So 17 Edw, III. Omnis status 
de Wreckivyke elegerunt Hugonem Kyng ad nfficium propositi, et 
juramentum suscepit, K. p, 456. Part of bis office was to take into 
the lord's hands such lands as the tenant through poverty was not 
able to occupy, — Ju? ati dicunt quod uxor ejus (/. e. Thomo Bavard 
Jiativi domini tenentis dorn'mi de Wrechwyke) non potest tenere prce- 
dicta messuagium et terram propter paupertatem, ita ut propositus 
possit capere in manibus domini prodicta messungium et terram, 
K. p. 458. The clergy or secular priests were sometimes elected 
into this office, till they were restrained by ecclesiastical authority, 
as particularly by the constitutions of Robert Grosthead bishop of 
Lincoln. — Walterus Hardy clericus est propositus domini, et pro- 
stitit sacramentum ad officium propositi bene et jideliter faciendum, 
K. p. 470. 

Priest ati o. A payment. — Prodicti prior et conventus Burn- 
cestro omnia onera ordinaria et extraordinaria et omnes prosta- 
tiones ratione dictarum decimarum semper sustinebunt, K. p. 344. 

Precaria. A Bed rep, or day of custumary work and labour 
done to the lord by his servile tenants, especially in the time of 
harvest. — Virgata terro ejusdem conditionis faciet ires precarias in 
autumpno, videlicet precariam sine prandio cum tribus hominibus t 
et unam precariam sine prandio cum uno homine, K. p. 401. — Ali- 
cia quofuit uxor Richardi le Grey— faciet tres precarias in autump- 
no sine cibo, K. p. 402. The tenants who thus paid their bounden 
service to the lord, besides their ordinary meals and repasts, had a 
more solemn entertainment at the end of harvest, when they came 
to the court or seat of the lord, cum toto ac pleno dyteno, i. e. in a 
full body to sing harvest-home. Which is the original of our now 
obtaining custom, though the reason of it is altered. This treat 
given now to the tenants and labourers is in Kent at the end of 
wheat- harvest, and is called a Whetkin : but in these midland parts 
it is at bringing in the latest corn, and is termed a Harvest-home. 
Fid. Bedrepium. 

Presbyter. The parish priest in opposition to the capellane or 
curate. — Hits testibus, IValtero capellano de Heyfyrd, Waltero pres- 
bytero de Meriton, K. p. 121. Fulcone presbyter de Meriton, K. 
p. 122. 

PRiso-onis. A Prisoner. From Fr. Prendre, The tenants were 



118 GLOSSARY. 

sometimes obliged to maintain at their own charge all prisoners 
who were apprehended within the extent of their own mannor. 
Homines de Hedingdon omnes pr'sones qui infra dictum manerium 
capientur surnptibus propriis custodient, K. p. 320. 

Procurare. To provide for, or to entertain. In all the 
churches appropriated to the abby of Oseney, — Canonici ipsi vica- 
rio invenient clericum et garconem, quos in omnibus suis expensis 
procurabunt, K. p. 304. 

Procuratio. A pecuniary sum or composition paid to an or- 
dinary or other ecclesiastical judge, to commute for the provision 
or entertainment which was otherwise to have been procured for 
him. A procuration of two marks paid to the bishop for conse- 
crating a church. — Nos ecclesiam de Eisefeld—dedicasse, et recepisse 
a procuratore rector is die tee ecclesice duas m areas nomine procuruti- 
onis ratione dedicationis ecclesice, K p. 515. In 3 Hen VI. the 
prior and bursar of the convent of Burcester accounted — pro pro- 
curatione convocations cleri tentce London antenatale Domini hoc 
anno ix, den. Et in solutis pro prccuratione domini papce vii. sol. 
ii. den. Et in solutis domino archidiacono Oxon. pro procuratione 
ecclesice parochialis Burcester hoc anno vii sol. vii. den. oh. q. K. 
p. 573. The archdeacon s procuration was commonly laid upon 
the appropriators, yet often injuriously thrown back upon the vicar. 
-—Ccetera onera ipsius ecclesice (i. e. de Ambrosderi) ordinaria 
sul eat vicar ius prcedictus, prceter procurationem archidiaconi, quam 
iidem religiosi solvent in futurum , K. p. 43 I . 

Procurators m. The Procuratory or instrument by which a 
person or persons did constitute or delegate their proctor to repre- 
sent them in an ecclesiastical court or cause. — lienor vero procura- 
torii dictorum religiosorum, K. p. 584. 

Procuratores Ecclesice Parochialis. Church-wardens who 
were to act as proxies and representatives of the church for the true 
honour and interest of it. — Johannes Peris sen. et Johannes Baity 
procuratores ecclesice parochialis de Acle, K. p. 562 

Procursus bestiarum in foresta The walk, or range ; or run- 
ning, for deer and other beasts in a forest. — The jury found it 
would be a prejudice to assart, i. e. to grub and cultivate, two 
acres of land upon Fernhurst within the forest of Bernwode, — quia 
si essent assartatce, bestice amitterent procursus suos ad transversum 
jorestce, K. p. 249. 

Prohibitio. A Prohibition, or writ from the king in behalf of 
one prosecuted in the court Christian, upon an action or cause be- 
longing or pretended to belong to the temporal jurisdiction. — John 
de Pydington had a prohibition against William vicar of the church 
of Little-Brickhill, 20 Edw. I. K. p. 3 18. This liberty of suing a 



GLOSSARY. 119 

prohibition wasexpresly renounced in some covenants between the 
religious. — Renuntiantes in hoc facto omnibus impellalionibus super 
hoc habitis, appellationibus, in integrum restitutioni, regice prohi- 
bitioni, et omni alii remedio, K p. 344. 

Provincial A Diocese. — In provmcia Alexandri Lincoln, epi- 
scopi, K p. 93 

Protegtio. A writ of Protection was given to religious houses 
and to particular priests for contributing freely to the king. — Ex 
hac causa libentius providere volentes suscepimus in protectionem et 
defensionem nostram specialem prcefatum Radulphum et singulos de 
prcediclo RaduLpho homines, te/ras, res, redditus, ei omnes posses- 
sionem ejusdem, K. p. 323, 329. 

Pullanus, Pullus. A colt or young horse, by Chancer called 
a Stod, as now in the North a Stot, Sax, Sreba and Stob, Eng. 
Steed, — duo pullani foemini (i. e. two mare colts) quatuor boves, 
&c. K. p. 287- Ties pulli masculi, unus fosminus , K. p. 288. — 
De octo solidis recepiis de uno pullano vendito per Johannem Deye 
apud Bucks. K. p. 57 1. — Sex pulli et tres equulce, et unus equulus 
de duobus annis, et duo pulli de uno anno, K. p. 38 From the 
Lat. Pullus came the Sax. Folle, old Eng. Phully, now Filly, a 
young colt, or in some parts only the mare colt. In a team, th§ 
horse which goes in the rods is commonly called the Fillar and the 
Fill-horse. It is a sorry ignorance in Minshew to derive Filly, a 
colt, from Fdia, a daughter. And a very learned man could only 
trifle on this word. — Fillie,recepto scepe nomine generosioribus qui- 
busdam Anglis dicitur equa prceter cceteras adamata. Fortasse ni- 
mirum aliquis equulce suce adblandiens <j>/A-tjv olim dixerit, atque 
inde remanserit hcec denominatio. Fieri quoque potest eos equulam 
prcecipue in deliciis habitam Phillie nuncupdsse, ab illo Phyllidos 
nomine, quod perdite dilectis amicabus passim tribuunt impotentiores 
amasii. Fr. Junius in voce Phillie. 

Purpars. Fr. Pour part, pro parte A Purparty, or that part 
or share of an estate, which being held in common bycoparteners, 
is by partition allotted to any one of them. — lnquisitio de hoeredi- 
tate Margaretce et Elizabethce — liberes, habendainpurpartem ipsius 
Elizabethce, K. p 502. 

Putta. Sax. Pitte, a Pit, Stone-pit, Chalk-pit, &c. From 
Puteus, a well, or rather Putus, little. Una in Crocwell-furlung 
quce jacet ad puttam inter terrain Johannis le Palmer, &c. K. p. 
18(5. This in the broad country tone is still called a Putte. Stane- 
puttes, the Stone-pits, K. p. 397. Hence by metaphor Lat. and 
Itah Putta, Fr. Putte, a whore, and Putagium, in old Eng. Putre, 
fornication on the woman's side. As now in London a Buttock 
or Puttock is a plain dealing whore, opposed to a File or pick poc- 



120 GLOSSARY. 

ket whore. In the North a Puttock-candle is the least in the 
pound, put in to make weight, called in Wiltshire a Pissing candle, 
in Kent a Make-weight. 

Q. 

,Quadrarium. A Quarry, or stone-pit. Fid Carrum. 

Quarentena. A Quarentine, a Fourty long, or Furlong. From 
the Fr. Quarente, fourty. A measure of fourty perches. Quaren- 
tana vero quadraginta perticis. Mom ^ng. torn. 1. p. 313. In 
which computation the perch was twenty foot. Qucelibet virga 
wide quarentence mensurabuntur , er'U viginti pedum. Mon. Ang. 
torn. 3. p. \6. In the Doomsday survey, it was the usual mensu- 
ration of wood-land. So in Burcester there was — Silva unius qua- 
rentence longitudine et unius lat tudine, K. p. 65. A Quarentine. 
was also the space of fourty days, wherein any person coming from 
foreign parts infected with the plague, was not permitted to land 
or come on shore, till he had performed his Quarentine, or fourty 
days were fully expired. A Quarentine was likewise a benefit al- 
lowed by the law of England for the widow to continue in her hus- 
band's chief mansion-house (if it were not a castle) for the space 
of fourty days after his decease. 

Quarter ruM. A Quarter, a seam, or eight bushels of corn. — 
Tria quarteria frumenti, trio, qunrteria avenarum, et unum quarte- 
rium fab arum, K. p. 291. Fid. Summa. 

Querela. An action preferred in any court of justice, in which 
the plantifF war called Querens, and his breve, complaint or de- 
claration, was Querela, whence our Eng. Quarrel Quietos esse a 
querelis was to be exempted from the custumary fees paid to the 
king or lord of a court for the purchasing a liberty to prefer such 
an action. But more usually to be exempted from fines imposed 
for common trespasses and defaults. So King Hen II. to Bernard 
de S. Walery, — Terrce suce sint quietce de omnibus placitis et que- 
relis, eiceptis murdredo et latrocimo, K. p. 123. — Quaiuor hidas 
apud Cestreton liberas et quielas ah omnibus querelis excepto mur- 
dredo et danegeldo, K. p. 403. 

Quietus. A writ of discharge granted to those barons and 
knights, who personally attended the king in any foreign expedi- 
tion, and were therefore exempted from the claim of scutage, or 
a tax on every knight's fee. So Gilbert Basset had his writ of 
Quietus in 2 King John for seven knights fees within the honor 
of Walingford, K. p. 162. 

Quintan, by the French termed Quintain, by the old English 
Quintane and Whintane, now commonly corrupted into Quintal, 



GLOSSARY, 121 

At first a Roman military sport, still retained in those parts of En- 
gland which lay adjacent to the Roman garrisons and ways ; and 
now made a custumary sport at weddings, K. p. 18. 

R. 

Raises. The northern term for the Risings, the barrows or 
hillocks raised for the burial of the dead, K. p. 37. They use like- 
wise in the northern parts near Scotland a Ram-raise to signifie 
the motion of stepping backward for the better advantage of taking 
a leap forward. 

Rea or Rey, an appellative for a river, whence Suthrey, the 
county on the south-side of the river Thames, K. p. 27. The small 
rivulet that runs through Burcester and cross Otmoore, is called the 
Rea or Rey : which in Lat. was termed Bums, whence Burcester 
Bury-end or River-end, in opposition to King's-end. And in 
Bury-end feld there was Schort-reye-croft, Nether-reye-croft, 
and Over- rey e-croft, K. p. 530. So St. Marie Overies on the 
South wark side of London. 

Recognitio. The impanel of a jury, or inquest of twelve or 
more legal men, who were therefore called Recognitores. — Habere 
recognitionem, to have a trial or verdict of jurors, for liberty of 
which a fine was paid to the king, — Abbas de Egnesham debet unum 
palefridum pro habenda recognition? duodecim legalium hominum 
de vicinetode Erdinton, K. p. Ifj8. Recognitio novce assisce, a new 
trial. — Richardus de Camvill et Eustacia uxor ejus debent unam 
mar cam pro habenda recognilione novae assisce, K. p. 173. 

Rectum. Right of inheritance. Brien Fitz Count engaged to 
serve Maud the empress, — Earn auxiliari rectum suum acquirere 
quod vi aufertur, K. p. 101. Right and satisfaction to be obtained 
in a legal course of justice. Alexander bishop of Lincoln to Guy 
de Charing, — Ne pro recti veljustitice penuria amplius audiam cla- 
morem, K. p. 90. Vid. Breve de Recto. 

Rectoria. The word used for a parsonage-house, even where 
there was no instituted rector. As at Stratton-Audley a chappel 
appendant to Burcester and appropriated to that priory, — Pro ca- 
riagio albi strarninis a rectoria de Stratton, K. p. 54Q, 

Regardatores Foreslce. Those officers who were every year 
upon oath to make a Regard, or take a view of the forest limits, 
and enquire into all the damages and trespasses committed, and 
present them in writing at the next swainmote or forest court. 
Manwood refers their institution to King Hen. II. but Spelman 
believes the name at least was since given, and that in the reign of 



122 GLOSSARY. 

Hen. II. they were called Custodies venationis. — Per sacr amentum 
omnium regardatorum et agistatorum , K. p. 209 . 

Regressus. A re-entry upon an estate past away, which was 
commonly renounced in the charter of conveyance. Bernard de 
S. Walery gave the site and advouson of Godstow to King Hen. II. 
— Ita quod neque ego neque hceredes mei regressum habeamus, vet 
calumpniam aliquam versus aliquos de prcnfato manerio, K. p. 127. 
Relevium. A Relief or fine paid to the king by all who came 
to the inheritance of lands held in capite or [by] military service, to 
Relieve or as it were to redeem their estate, and obtain possession 
of it. It consisted at first in horses and arms, till by the Assise of 
Arms, 27 Hen. II. every man's armour was preserved for his heir, 
and the Relief payable in money, of which the fixt rates were de- 
termined by Magna Charta. An earl for bis whole county one 
hundred pounds. A baron for his whole barony one hundred marks. 
A knight for his whole fee one hundred shillings ; and so in pro- 
portion, to be paid by every inheritor of an estate, at full age, the 
heir male at twenty-one, female at fourteen. Thomas de S. Wa- 
lery lord of Ambrosden indebted to King John one hundred and 
seventy marks for a Relief, K. p. 159. Sir William Fitz-Elias paid 
one hundred shillings for his Relief of one knight's fee in Oakle, 
11 Hen. II. K p. 202, The judges determined that William 
Longspe should pay two hundred pounds for the Relief of two ba- 
ronies, K. p. 246. One hundred pounds paid for the Relief of one 
barony by Hugh de Plessets, 4/ Hen. III. K. p. 260. One hun- 
dred pounds by Theobald de Verdon baron, K. p. 282. If the ba- 
ron were beyond ihe seas at the time of his coming to full age, the 
estate was by the king's special favour surrendered to his use, with 
security given for paying a reasonable Relief at his return.- — Cum 
idem Henricus sit in transmarinis partibus, volentes ei gratiarn fa- 
cere, omnia praedicta ipsi reddidimus, accepta securitate de rationw 
bili relevio, K. p. 46g. Reliefs were payable not only to the king 
as prime lord, but to all barons and knights by those tenants who 
held under them by military service. 1'his was chargeable on es- 
tates of this tenure given to religious houses. As the priory of 
Poghele in com. Berks, at the succession of every new prior paid to 
Sir Ralph de Chesterton lord of the fee one hundred shillings for 
the Relief of one knight's fee in Bettreton, K. p. 234. 

Relevare. To-pay such Relief and obtain possession of such 
estate. Some custumary and servile tenants did Relieve or pay a 
fine for renewment of a tenure on the death of the last possessor, 
which in one virgate was double the rent, and four shillings over. 
So in the mannor of Hedingdon 20 Edw. I. Cum integrum virga- 



GLOSSARY. 123 

tarn terrce tenens decesserit, hceres ejus per duplication em sui redditus 
annualis et per quatuor solidos terminum ultra relevabit, et qui mi- 
nus tcnuerit de una virgata, ultra redditum suum duplicatum, mi' 
nus det secundum quantitatem tenement! sui, K. p. 3lg. 

Religiosi. The Religious or all regulars of a religious order, 
as opposed to lay men and to the secular clergy. Before the statute 
of Mortmain, the nation was so sensible of the extravagant dona- 
tions to the religious, that in the grant and conveyance of estates 
it was often made an express condition, that no sale, gift, or assig- 
nation of the premises should be made to the religious. — Tenenda 
sibi et hceredibus suis, vel cuicunque vendere, dare, vel assignare ho~ 
luerint, exceptis viris religiosis et Judceis. 

Repasttjm. A Repast or meal. Unum Repastum, one meal's 
meat given by custom to servile tenants when they laboured for 
their lord. — Tenet in bondagio, et debet unam wedbtdrip pro volun- 
tale domince, et habebit unum repastum., K. p. 401 . 

Reprisa. The deductions and charges paid out of lands and 
tenements to be allowed and excepted in the clear value of the es- 
tate. — Capitate messuagium valet per annum cum tota inclausa 
ii. sol. et nan plus, salva reprisa domorum et aliarum qfjicinarum, 
K. p. 3 1 4. 

Respectus. Respite or longer time. Se ponere in respectum, 
To gain a continuance of term, or forbearance, in order to make 
a better proof or defence in a cause depending. — Robertus Frere et 
Joshua Phelippes attachiati — se ponunt in respectum quousque me* 
lius poterit per fide dignos probari, K. p. 458. 

Restitutio in integrum. A writ of restitution, to put a person 
into repossession of such lands and tenements as whereof he had 
been wrongfully disseised. The procuring such writ was ex- 
presly renounced in some covenants of sale, the better to secure a 
title to the purchaser. Renuntiantes in hoc facto omnibus impella* 
tionibus super hoc habitis, appellationibus, in integrum restitutioni, 
regies prohibitioni, &c. K. p. 344. 

Restitutio Temporalium. All bishopricks and abbies held in 
capite upon every vacancy or death of a prelate, were taken as a 
lapse into the king's hands by the eschaetor, who was to receive 
the intermediate profits, and upon the election and confirmation of 
a successor, a writ was issued out De Restitutions Temporalium. — 
Abbas de Oseneia obiit 25 Edw. I. et anterestitutionem temporalium 
dictce abbatice successori dicti abbatis dictce domus electo factam, 
petiit eschaetor ad opus domini regis cupam et palefrdum, K p, 330. 

Retinementum. Reserve. — Sine ullo retinemento ad me vel 
hceredes meos pertinente, K. p. 162. 

Rotulus Curice. The court roll of the lord, in which the 



124 GLOSSARY. 

names, rents, and services of the tenants were copied and enrolled. 
Per rotulum curice tenere, by copyhold. — Matildis le Taillur tenet 
per rotulum curice unum messuagium, K. p. 396. 

Rotuli Placitorum. Court records, or the register of trials, 
judgements and decrees, in a court of justice. — Died homines 'prce- 
missas conventiones in rotulis placitorum clomini regis de anno supra- 
dicto ad mojorem securitatem inrotulari procurarunt, K. p 321. 

Rudge. The back or top of any thing, thence by metaphor ap- 
plied to a hill or any ascent. As Asherngge. Mons Fraiineus, a 
hill of ashes. From Sax. tjuge, frnick, Dan. Rye Hence a Rack 
and Rick of hay or straw. A Rack of mutton, Dorsum ovile. A 
Ridge of land. The Ridge of a house. Rugged or high-backed, 
a Rug, Rough, Roughings, Rigging or cloatbs. To Rig or lade a 
vessel. And in old Eng. the word Ri'gge was used for the back, 
as Pierce Plough-man describes the pedlar with " a Pake at his 
Rigge," i. e. a pack at his back. 

Rustici. Those Corls, Churls, Clowns, or inferiour tenants 
who held cottages and land by the service of country work or hand- 
labour. The land of such ignoble tenure was called by the Saxons 
Gajrollanb, as afterwards Soccage tenure, and was sometimes distin- 
guisht by the name of Terra Rusticorum. So Gilbert Basset gave 
to his priory of Burcester — Unam virgatam terrce in Strattun col- 
lectam de terra rusticorum , quce datafuit in dote prcedictce capellce, 
K. p. 136. 



Sacerdos. The parish priest, rector, or vicar, as distinguished 
from his capellane or curate. So to the donation of the hermitage 
of Musewell to the abby of Missenden, the witnesses are — Willi- 
elmus senex sacerdos de Burcester, cum Willielmo capellano suo, et 
Willielmo sacerdote de Ambrosden, K. p. 76'. To a charter of Sir 
Wido de Meriton to the Knights Templars. Testes donationis sunt 
Fulco sacerdos de Meriton, K. p. 120. 

S a cr amentum. An oath. The common form of all inquisi- 
tions made by a jury of free and legal men. Qui dicunt super 
(aut per) sacr amentum suum, K p. 314. Whence possibly the 
proverbial offering to take the Sacrament in affirming or denying, 
was first meant ot an oath. 

Sackamentum Altaris. The sacrifice of the mass, or what we 
now call the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper : for which commu- 
nion, the bread and wine was provided by the priest out of the 
ample offerings, and in appropriated churches this burden was 
often laid on the vicar. — Panem et vinum pro sacramento altaris 



GLOSSARY. 125 

vicarius illius ecclesice (i. e. de Meriton) propriis sumptibus exhibe- 
bit, K. p. 483. 

Sackilegium. Sacrilege, or an alienation to lay men and to 
profane or common purposes of what was given to religious per- 
sons and to pious uses. Our fore-fathers were very tender of in- 
curring the guilt and scandal of this crime. And therefore when 
the Knights Templars were dissolved, their lands were all given to 
the Knights Hospitalers of Hierusalem, — Ne in pios usus erogata 
contra donatorum voluntatem in alios usus distraherentur, K. p. 39O. 

Salarium. A Salary. At first it signified the rent or profits of 
a Sala or house. In Gascoigne they now call the seats of noble- 
men Sales, as we do Halls. It afterwards stood for any wages or 
annual allowance, — Qui quidem capellamis et succesiores sui nomine 
salarii sui recipient singulis annis in perpetuum omnimodas decimas, 
K.p. 661. 

Salt-Sylver. One penny paid at the feast of St. Martin by 
the servile tenants to their lord, as a commutation for the service of 
carrying their lord's salt from market to his larder. — In manerio de 
Pydinton quilibet virgutarius dabit domino unum denarium pro 
Salt-Sylver ptr annum ad dictum festum S. Martini, vel cariahunt 
mlem domini de joro ubi emptus fuerit ad lardarium do mini, K. 
p 496. 

Sarculare. To weed standing corn. From Lat. Sarclum, Sur- 
culum, a weeding-hook. — Tenentes de Hedingdon per duos dies in 
quadragesima similiter arabunt, et herciabunt, et uno die poslea sar- 
culabunt blada domini ibidem, K. p. 320. — Et in solulis diuersis ho- 
minibus etfaeminis primo die Julii conductis adsarculandum diversa 
blada, ut patet ptr talliam, contra agillarium hoc anno xiv. sol. 
x. den. K. p. 5/6. Una S-irculatura, the service of one day's 
weeding for the lord. — Tenet in bondagio, et debet unam aruram, 
et vnam sarculaturam, K. p. 401. — Silicia qucc fuit uxor Richardi 
le Grey facie t unam sarculaturam, et unam wedbedripam, K.p. 402. 

Say. Silk. A Lat. Sericum, Ital. Seta, Teuton Seide, Sax. Si- 
fcene. Whence our Sattin, which yet Vossius deduces from Lat. 
and Gr. SjkW, as that from the Syriac Sadni. — Et in bolt rubei 
Say propter anabatam jaciendam iv. sol. wni.den. K. p 574. 

Sassons. The corruption of Saxons, a name by which the En- 
glish were formerly called in contempt (as they still are by the 
Welsh) while they rather affected the name of Angles. 

Salicetum. An Osier-bed, or low moist place on the bank of 
a river for the growth of osiers, willows, or withies. Sax. Peliger, 
old Eng. Wickers. Thence a Wicker basket, a Wicket or door 
made of basket work. The Wicket or cross stick to be thrown 
down by the ball at the game called Crickets, &c. Molendinum 



126 GLOSSARY. 

de Kertlinlon cum quaiam particula saliceti, quce de meofeodo est, 
K. p. 201. 

A Sceap. A measure of corn. Lat. Schapa, Schaphula, a Sea- 
pha, a boat, or Scipp or Sciff. Seeppa sails, a quantity of salt. Mon. 
Ang. torn. 2. p. 284. — Eight quarter and one sceap of wheat, 
K. p. 604. Hence a basket is called a Skip or Skep in the south 
parts of England, and a beehive is called a Beeskip. 

Schozears. They seem to have been plough-wheels, from 
Sax. Scoj - , Shoes, and Gjnan, to ploughor ear. — Et in uno pari ro- 
tarum vocat. Schozears empto ibidem vu.sol. ii. den. K. p. 573. 

Scikewyte. An annual tax or imposition paid to the sheriff 
of the county or shire, for holding the assises or county courts. — 
In solulis pro qundarn pensione vocata Scirewyte annuatim iv. sol. 
K. p. 5J3. Shire, Schyre, from Sax. Scyp an, to divide, whence a 
Share or division, a Shore dividing sea and land, a Skry to cleanse 
and separate corn, a Skreen or partition in a room. To Shear or 
to cut with a pair of Shears, a Wheat-shearing in Kent is the time 
of cutting wheat. A Sciver, now a Shiver or Shavings of wood, a 
Sceuer for meat, a Schrift or shift, a Schred or shred, a Scheart or 
shirt, Sceord or short, a Sceort or skirt, &c. In Kent we call a 
bridle-way a Sheer- way, as separate and divided from the common 
road, or open high-way. 

Scotella. Scutella, a Scutum. Sax. Scutel, Scuttel, anything 
of a fiat and broad shape like a shield : especially a plate or dish, 
as a shallow platter is still called a wooden Scuttle : and in Kent 
the shovel with which they turn their malt is called a Scuttle. To 
the same Lat. Scutum we owe the Scuttles of a ship, a weaver's 
Shuttle, a Shuttl°-cock, &c. — Et in duabus scotellis manualibus 
emptis ibidem vii. den. et in quinque scotellis minoris sortis emptis 
ibidem pro cceteris officiis ix. den. K. p, 574. 

Scrutinium. A view and inquest made by neighbours as se- 
lect arbitrators to adjust any depending difference. — Idem prior facto 
inde per vicinos diligenti scrulinio certioratus per eosdem, K. p. 2Q7> 

Scutagium. Scutage, from Lat. Scutum, a shield, whereon 
they wore a device or military distinction, whence Scutum Armo- 
rum, a coat of arms. Fr. Escusson, whence our Escocheon or 
Scutchion. All tenants who held from the king by military service 
were bound to attend personally in wars and expeditions -, or for 
default of personal service, a Scutage or composition tax on every 
Scutum militare or knight's fee and the proportionable parts was 
assest and levied for the king's use. In 7 Hen. II. there was a 
Scutage of two marks on every knight's fee, K. p. 1 18. A Scu- 
tage of one mark in J 3 Hen. II. K. p. 124. A Scutage of ten 
shillings on every fee collected in 3 Rich. I. K. p. 148. A Scutage 



GLOSSARY. 12/ 

of twenty shillings for the king's redemption, 5 Rich. I. K.p. 154. 
A Scutage of two marks in the first of King John, K. p. lfjO. The 
same Scutage in 2 King John, K. p. \6l. A Scurage of three 
marks in 2J Hen, III. K. p. 231. A Scutage of twenty shillings 
on each fee for marriage of the king's eldest daughter in 29 
Hen If I. K. p. 235. A Scutage of fourty shillings for making 
Prince Edward a knight in 39 Edw. III. K.p. 249. A Scutage of 
fourty shillings in 6 Edw. L K. p. 29O. If a baron or knight had 
paid his personal attendance in any expedition, he had the king's 
discharge from Scutage to himself or to his heir. — Rex vie. Own. 
— Sciatis quod IV. Longspe quondam comes Sarumfuit nobiscum in 
exerciiu nostro Muntgumery . Ideo tibi prceciphnus quod de Scuta- 
gio quod per summonitores scaccarii exigis ajilio — pacem ei habere 
permittas, K. p. 200. The barons and knights when they paid a 
Scutage to the king, had power to levy the same tax of those te- 
nants who held from them in military service. And this was often 
made an express condition in subordinate grants and conveyances. 
So Amfride Fitz Richard gave to the abby of Oseney one hide of 
land in Chesterton, — Ita quod quando dominica terra de Cestreton 
dat scutagium, dicta terra dabit quinlam partem unius scuti, K. 
p 126. — De liberis tenentibus dicunt, quod Robertus Picker ell tenet 
de octo virgatis t err ce cum pertinentiis in Meriton, quae pertinent ad 
manerium de Pydinton, et tenentur de domino ejusdem per servitium 
militare, et quum scutagium currit domino, dabit unam marcam, 
K. p. 495. The barons upon other extraordinary occasions ob- 
tained the king's precept, whereby they were impowered to tax 
their inferiour tenants. As when Richard king of the Romans and 
earl of Cornwall was to visit Rome, upon his own and his royal 
brother's urgent affairs, the king issued one writ to the said ear], 
to authorise him to demand, and another to his tenants to oblige 
them to pay, a certain Scutage to him. And at another time by 
the king's order a Scutage was imposed on all the tenants of the 
said Richard, to rabe the mony which he had expended for his re- 
demption when a prisoner to Montfort's party, K. p. 208. 

Seal. Sax. Sigel, from Lat. Sigillum. Those persons who had 
no proper seal of their own procured the seal of some other pri- 
vate friend or publick officer to be affixt to their acts and deeds. 
So Margaret le Frankleyn in 10 Hen. III. put the seal of Gerard 
de Wyzeri, because she had no seal in her own right, K. p. 199. 
If persons thought their own seal to be obscure and unknown, they 
generally procured the affixing of some more authentick seal : as 
in the form of several charters, — Quia sigillum meum penitus est in- 
cognitum — Ideo sigillum, — apponi procuravi, K. p 442, 663, 666. 

Secretaries, a SecretiSj a Secretary. The word formerly sig- 



128 GLOSSARY. 

nified any confident, favourite, or intimado.— Cuncta denique agen* 
da sua ad nutum unius secretarii sui passim committere, K. p. 388. 

Secta Curiae. Suit and service done by tenants at the court 
.of their lord, — Homines de Hedingdon facient sectam curies domini 
de sex stptimanis, et si breve domini regis in dicta curia attachietur, 
tunc sectam Warn facient de tribus septimanis in ires septimanas, K. 
p. 320. This suit or attendance was often remitted to the religious 
as a special privilege. So Richard earl of Cornwall confirmed to 
the abby of Cheney their land in Mixbury, — quco terra quandoqui- 
dem consuevit facere sectam ad curiam nostram de North-Osenei, 
hanc sectam,, &c. relaxamus in perpetuum, K. p. 212. 

Secta Schirarum et Hundredorum. The attendance, suit, and 
service done by tenants in the county and hundred courts. Quietos 
esse de hac secta, was a privilege to be exempted from such custu- 
mary service. So the abbat of Abbotesburie in com. Dorset, had 
this privilege in the hundred of Whitchurch, — Prcedicti abbas et 
prce dec es sores sui sunt quieti de secta illius hundredi per concessionem 
Roberti de Alan devil quondam, domini ejusdem hundredi. Mon. Ang. 
torn. l.p. 279. So King Hen. II. granted to the free tenants 
within the honurs of Walingford and Bercamsted, — at sint quieti 
de sectis schirarum et hundredorum, K. p. 1 14. The religious had 
commonly their tenants discharged from this duty for those lands 
which they held in frank almoigne, — Eleemosinam liberam et 
quietam ab omni sectantia et exactione, K. p. 132. 

Seed-Cod. A basket or other vessel of wood carried upon one 
arm of the husbandman, to bear the seed or grain which he sows 
with the other hand. From Sax. Saeb, seed, and Cobbe a purse, 
or such like continent. Hence Codd in Westmorland is a bolster 
or pillow, and in other northern parts a Cushion, as a Pin -cod, i. e. 
a pin cushion, a Horse-cod, i e. a horse collar to guard his neck. 
The Cod of a man or beast, a Cod-piece, a Peas-cod, &c. — Pro uno 
seed-cod empto \v.d. K. p. 549. This Seed-cod was commonly by 
the Saxons called Sseb-Leap, which very word Seed leap is still re- 
tained in Essex, but here in Oxfordshire corrupted into a Seed-lip, 
and in other parts a Seed- lib. The Sax. Leap was properly a ba- 
sket or pannier made of osiers, whence a Weel made of willows or 
osiers to catch fish, is now in Leicestershire called a Leap. From 
this continent they borrowed the Latin word Lepa, a Lepe, or 
measure of about five gallons, as in this citation from an extent of 
the mannor of Garinges produced by Sir Henry Spelman, — Debet 
triturare ires bussellos frumenti , et dimidiam lepce, vel quinque bus- 
sellos Jabarum, pisarum, vel vescarum. And more evidently from 
an extent of the mannor ofTerring in Sussex, 5 Edw. I. quoted 
by Mr. Somner, — IVillielmus le Cupere tenet ferlingum unius vir- 



GLOSSARY. 12£> 

gaits conllnentem qualuordecim acras pro octodecim denariis soluen- 
dis, — et colliget de nucibus in bosco dumini tertiam partem unius men- 
surce quae vocatur Lepe, quod est tertia pars duarum bussellorum, 
vt valet quadrantem. The words Leap and Lib in Sussex do now 
signifie the measure of half a bushel, or four gallons. 

Selio. A ridge of ploughed land, or as much as lies between 
two furrows. In old Eng. a Selion of land, and a Stitch of land* 
Coke on Littleton derives the Lat. Selio from the Fr. Selion, a 
ridge. But the learned Spelman gives its original to the Sax. Sul, 
orSyl, a plough, which in the North is still called a Sull, and in 
Wiltshire a Sullow. — Joan prioress of Merkyate and her sisters 
granted to Henry prior of Burcester and the canons — duas seliones 
in Hodesham, K. p. \QQ. — quatuor seliones terrce quce vocantur 
luttes, K. p. I87. Alice Segrim granted to Sir John de Handlo, 
— duas seliones terrce arabilis in Southcroft, K. p. 347- — Octoacrce 
jacent apud le Bowelonde in novemdecem selionibus, — et duce acrce 
continent quatuur seliones cum duabus buttis, K. p. 428. — Ad proe- 
parandum usque ad carectam xxix. selioi.es ordei, K. p. 5f6. From 
the Sax. Sul came the Lat. Sulinga, old Eng. Sulinge, a plough- 
land, which thus occurs in an old charter of King Offa to arch-bi- 
shop Janibert, — In nomine Jesu Salvatoris mundi, &c. Ego Offa 
rex totius Anglorum patrice dabo et concedo Janiberht archiepiscopo 
ad ecclesiam, aliquam partem terrce trium aratorum, quod Cantia- 
niste dicitur three Sulinge. From Sull a plough we must derive 
to Sully, i. e. to throw up dirt, and perhaps the looks and colours 
of Sullen and Sallow -, nor is it unlikely our Eng. Soil and to Soil, 
are rather owing to the Sax. Sul than to the Lat. Solum. 

Seisina, Saisina. From Fr. Saisir, to take or possess. Ponere 
in seisina, to give or put in possession. Constituo — attornatum 
meum ad ponendum Johannem filium Nigelli jun. de Eorstall no- 
minemeoin seisina de omnibus terris, &c. K. p. 275. Longa seisina, 
long and immemorial possession. Franciplegium est qucedam li~ 
hertas regia mere spectans ad coronam et dignitatem domini regis, 
contra quam longa seisina valere non debet, K. p. 313. 

Seneschallus. A Seneschal, from the Germ. Sein, a house 
or place, and Schale, a servant. The Seneschal of a baron was his 
chief steward or head baylirF that kept his courts, received his rents, 
and managed his demesne lands. Hugh de Bochland was Senes- 
chal to Brien Fitz-Count lord of Walingford, K. p 1O0. Edmun- 
dus comes Cornubice dilecto et fideli suo Simoni de Grenhull senes' 
challo honoris S. Walerici salutem, K. p. 331. When the baron 
was absent out of England his Seneschal acted all matters as his 
lord's attorney or proxy, — Nee est prcetermittendum quod quoties' 
cunque priorissam eligere contigerit ad eundem prioratum, de seipsis 

k 



130 GLOSSARY. V 

priorissam de assensu meo, vel seneschallimci siin Anglia nonfuero, 
eligere licebit, K. p. 165. 

Sep aria, Separaria. A Several or divided enclosure, — Placia 
quce jacet juxta separiam prioris et conventus de Burncester, K. 
p. 336. 

Seguestkare. To Sequester the profits of an estate or bene- 
fice, or detain them from the use of the proprietor or owner. A 
power of sequestration reserved to the bishop against the appropri- 
ators, if they failed in any performance of covenant or pension. As 
in the ordination of the vicarage of Merton, — Liceat eo ipso, et non 
servato alio processu, nobis et succesoribus nostris episcopis Lincolnice 
vmnes fructus redditus et proventus ipsius ecclesice sequestrate, et sub 
tuto tenere sequestro t donee dicta pernio cum suis arreragiis integre 
persolvatur, K. p. 483. 

Sequi. To prefer an action and prosecute a cause, as attorney 
of the plantirF. — Gilbertus de Thornton qui sequitur pro rege dicit 
quodfranciplegium, &C. K. p. 313. 

Seo-uela. Suit and service and all other custumary duties of 
those tenants who depended on the lord. William de Longspe 
confirmed to the priory of Eurcester their land in Wrechwick, — ■ 
cum villanis et eorum sequelis et catallis, K. p. 21 6. — Villanos cum 
villanagiis omnibus catallis et tota sequela ipsorum, K. p. 2S8. — 
Una cum villanis, coterellis, eorum catallis, servitiis, seeds, et seque- 
lis, et omnibus suis ubicunque pertinenlibus , K. p. 310. 

Sera Pendibilis. A Pad-lock, which Pad Minshew makes to 
be a contraction of Pendible, but Skinner from the German Padde, 
Seres Latibulum, the staple into which the bolt runs. — Et in sex 
seris pendibilibus emptis ibidem xviii. den. K. p. 574. The Sax. 
Loc signified not only the Lock of a door, but any sort of enclosure, 
whence a Lock or restraint of water on the river, a Lock or pen 
for sheep. 

Serjantta, Servientia. A Serjeantry or service done for the 
holding of lands, either Grand-serjeantry, some honourable mili- 
tary service paid only to the king, as to carry his banner, to bear 
his sword, to find him a certain number of men and horses, &c. 
Or Petit-serjeantry, some inferiour and less noble service paid to 
the king or any other lord, as reception and entertainment, pro- 
vender for horses, to give a bow, spurs, gloves, &c. — Johannes Jilius 
Nigelli tenet de rege unam hidam terrce arabilis in Bor stall per 
magnam serjeantiam custodiendi forestam de Bernwode, K. p. 205. 
— Isabella de Handlo tenuit unum ?nessuagium quatuor carucatas 
terrce, et triginta unum solidatos, et quatuor denariatos redditus in 
Hedindon a domino rege in capite per magnam serjeantiam inveni- 
endi unum hominem, et custodiendi forestam de Shotover et <S/o- 



GLOSSARY. 131 

ioode, K. p. 49O. Richard de Prestcote held one hide of land in 
Blechesdon, — per serjantiam port audi unam hastam porci. — By the 
petty serjeantry of carrying a shield of brawn to the king as often 
as he hunted in the forest of Cornbury, K. p. 244. Joan de Muse- 
grave held the same lands by the same tenure in 13 Edw. III. 
K. p. 450. Oliver de Standford in 27 Edw. I. held lands in Netle- 
bed com. Oxon. — Per serjantiam espicurnantioe in cancellaria do' 
mini regis, — By the office of Espigurnel or sealer of the king's writs 
in Chancery, K. p. 292. Ela countess of Warwick held the man- 
nor of Hokenorton com. Oxon. — Per serjantiam scindendi coram 
domino rege die natalis Domini, et habere cultellum domini regis de 
quo scindit, K. p. 308. The mannor of Broughton com. Oxon. in 
reign of Edw. II. was held by John Mauduit in capite, — Per ser- 
jantiam mutandi unum hostricum domini regis, vel ilium hostricum 
portandi ad curiam domini regis, K. p. 569. Aston- Bernard com. 
Buck, held in 20 Edw. TIL by John Molins from the king in ca- 
pite, — by the serjeantry of being marshal of the king's faulcons 
and other hawks, K. p. 56g. William de la Pole marquess of 
Suffolk held the mannors of Neddyng and Kittilberston com. Suff. 
by the serjeantry of carrying a golden sceptre with a dove on the 
head of it, on the coronation clay of the king's heirs and succes- 
sors. As also another scepter of ivory with a golden dove on the 
head thereof on the day of the coronation of the queen, and all suc- 
ceeding queens of England, K. p. 631. Sir John de Molins held 
the mannor of II mere com. Buck, by the serjeanty of keeping the 
king's hawks, K. p. 449. Amory de S. Amand held the mannor 
of Grendon com. Buck, and the advonson of the church of Beckley 
com. Oxon. by the petty serjeanty of furnishing the lord of the 
honor with one bow of ebony and two arrows yearly, or sixteen 
pence in mony, K. p. 358. — Summa reddituum assisorum de ma- 
nerio Banbury, — Item de serjantia cxl. gallince, et mccc. ova, K. 
p. 354. By the stat. 12 Car. II. when all tenures were turned 
into free and common soccage, the honorary services of grand-ser- 
jeanty were alone excepted. 

Servi. Servile tenants. Our northern Servi had alway a much 
easier condition than the Roman slaves. — Servis non in nostrum 
morem descriptis per familiam ministeiiis utuntur. Suam quisque 
sedem, suos penates regit. Frumenti modurn dominus, aid pecoris, 
aut vestis, colono injungit, et seruus hactenus paret. Tacit, de Mor. 
German. Which plainly describes the condition of our Saxon and 
Norman servants, natives, and villanes. No author to my know- 
ledge has fist the distinction between Servus and Villanus, though 
undoubtedly their servitude was different : for they are all along in 
the Doomsday book divided from one another. So in Burcestes 

k2 



132 GLOSSARY. 

there were — quinque servi, et viginti octo villani, K. p. 65. I 
suppose the Servi were those whom our lawyers have since called 
Pure Villanes, and Villanes in gross, who without any determined 
tenure of land were at the arbitrary pleasure of the lord appointed 
to such servile works, and received their maintenance and wages 
at discretion of their lord. The other were of a superiour degree, 
and were called Villani, because they were villce et glebes adscripti, 
held some cottage and lands, for which they were burdened with 
such stated servile offices, and were conveyed as a pertinence of 
the mannor to which they belonged. The Ancilla or woman ser- 
vant so disposed at the pleasure of the lord. Sir Simon de Meri- 
ton granted to' the Knights Templars, — Augnetem de Meriton quce 
fuit filia Willielmi patris Walteri ejusdem villce, et omnia catalla 
quce hahet vel habere potent, et omnes proventus qui de ea exierunt 
vel exibunt, K. p. 125. 

Servitium Regale. Royal service, or the rights and preroga- 
tives that within such a mannor belong to the king if lord of it : 
which were generally reckoned to be these six : 1. Power of judi- 
cature in matters of property. 2. Power of life and death in cri- 
minal causes. 3. A right in wayfs and strays. 4. Assessments. 
5. Minting of money. 6*. Assise of bread, beer, weights and mea- 
sures. All these entire privileges were annext to some mannors 
in their grant from the king, and were sometimes conveyed in the 
charters of donation to religious houses, — Ecclesia S. Georgii data 
fuit fratribus Osen. et habet ibidem visum franciplegii et totum regale 
servitium, K. p. 60. 

Servientes Vicecomitum. The baylifTs of sheriffs, who had an 
Auxilium or custumary aid paid to them, from which some per- 
6ons were by special privilege exempted. So King Hen. II. 
granted to the Homines et Mercaiores honoris de JVdlingford, ut 
quieti sint de auxilio vicecomitum et servientum, K. p. 114. 

Serviens de manerio. A Steward who is employed by the lord 
to occupy such grounds, and to account for the yearly profits of 
them. — Computat Walterus de Gaung serviens de Arnikote coram 
auditoribus de omnibus receptis, K. p 287. 

Sewer, Dapjfer mensalis. An officer like our clerk of the 
kitchen, who ordered the serving up of dishes to the table. Dr. 
Cowel derived it from the old Fr. Asseour, a disposer. William 
Martel sewer to King Stephen, K. p. 97- 

Sjdelinge. A ridge or butt of arable land lying along the side 
of a stream or river. — Cujus aqua manat ultra et pr<Bter dictas 
buttes, et ideo vocantur Sydelynges, nee pertinent ad furlong de 
Long-Stajford nee ad Busthames furlong, sedjacent inter medium, 
K. p. 531. — Delude transeundum est ad fur lung de Thromwell cum 



GLOSSARY. 133 

le Sidelynge adjacente, K. p. 532. — Ah hac furlung procedunt le 
Sidelynges de quibus patet superius, ib. From Sax. Sib, Sibe. 
Thence a Side or party, to Side or adhere to, a Sideman or assist- 
ant, to Side about or turn. In the North wast-coats are called 
Side-coats ; from a situation on the Side or along by, in Lincoln- 
shire and most northern parts they use the word Side for Long, as 
a Side-field, a long field : and for high, as a Side-house, a Side- 
mountain j and by metaphor for proud, as a Side woman, i. e. a 
haughty proud woman : which in Sussex is Sidy, as a Sidy- fellow, 
i. e. an imperious surly fellow. - 

Signum. A cross prefixt to the name of a subscribing witness 
as a sign of attestation and approbation to a charter or other deed, 
commonly used among the Saxons and first Normans, before the 
use of seals or military coats of arms. ^kSignum Rolerti episcopi 
Lincoln. tfcSignum Nigelli de Oily, &c. K. p. /8. 

Simony. Upon proof of Simoniacal presentation, the clerk 
was ejected, the patron lost his next turn, and the bishop collated j 
as in the church of Bucknel, an. 1524, K. p. 619. 

Slade. Sax. Slasb. A long flat piece of ground. Pratum voca- 
turn le Slade, K. p. 465. — Slade -fur long, K. p. 537 ,— furlong de la 
Slade, ibid, de la Slade versus Graven hull nichil in denariis hoc 
anno quia remanet ad staurum domini, K. p. 572. Hence Sax. 
SlrS, Dan. Slet, Eng. Sleet, i. e. smooth and plain. To Slide, a 
Slidgeor Sledge, to Sleek cloaths with a Sleek-stone, to Slib or Slip, 
Slape or smooth in Lincolnshire, Slape-ale, i. e. plain ale opposed 
to worm-wood, scurvy-grass, or other medicinal ale. A Slab or 
smooth plank. A Slate or flat step of a ladder in the North, where 
butchers' call the tongue and root of a hog killed and cut out a Slot 
of pork. In Northumberland the Slot of a door is the bolt: and 
in the South to Slot a lock is to thrust it back. Slate or smooth 
mineral stone. A Slappel or smooth piece in Sussex. A Slap or 
flat box with the open hand. A Slog or Slough of smooth water 
and dirt. Slaps or seamen's breeches. Slippers. A SlifF or 
Sieve. To Slubber or run smoothly over. Old Eng. Slidder, small 
rain or Sleet. A Slape or smooth descent. To Slitter or cut 
smooth. A Sliver or smooth piece, &c. 

Smigma, Migma, a Gr. MiyvvvA, Misceo. Soap, or a confec- 
tion of soap and other unctuous matter for washing and cleansing 
of boards, cloaths, &c. — Et in smigmate empto quadam vice ad la- 
vandam aulam prioris i. den. K. p. 5^4. 

Snodde. A smooth roll or bottom of silk or thread. From Sax. 
Snob, a fillet or hair-lace with which women smooth up their hair, 
which in the North parts of England is now called a Snude, and 
in Scotland a Snod. Which Snod as an adjective in the North is 



134 GLOSSARY. 

a common word for smooth. And Snodly for smoothly and 
neatly, as Snodly geared, i. e. smoothly and finely drest. And 
wheat ears are said to be Snod when they have no beard or awns. 
And a tree is Snod when the top is cut smooth off. Hence to 
Snod along, to go close and smooth ; to lie Snod and Snug, to lie 
close. — Et in octo Snoden de Pahthread emptis ibidem pro quodam 
retifacicndo pro tuniculis capiendis hoc anno sex sol. K. p. 574. 

Solarium. An upper room, chamber, or garret, which in some 
parts of England is still called a Sollar. — Istud cellarium et Mud so- 
larium sita sunt intra domum meant, K. p, 325. — Pro duolus cella- 
riis et duolus solariis eisdem ad terminum vitce traditis et concessis, 
K. p. 448. The Sax. Sol signified a rope or haltar to tie cattle in 
their stall, which in several parts of England is still called a Soul 
and a Sole, whence to Sovvl, to pull and tie up ; and by easie me- 
taphor to Sowl one by the ears, i. e. to pull one's ears, a common 
phrase in Lincolnshire, upon which Dr= Skinner is thus ridiculously 
witty. To Sowl one by the ears, vox ogro Line, usitatusima, i> e. 
aures summa vi vellere, credo a Sow, i. e. aures arripere et vellere, 
Vt suibus canes solent. 

Socage, Soccagium, Sax. Soc, Soca, right and jurisdiction. Soc- 
cage was a tenure of lands by which a man was enfeoffed freely or 
in fee simple, without any military service, relief, ward, or mar- 
riage, paying only to the lord a stated rent in mony or provisions. 
So the kings of England often firm'd out their demesn lands, as 
Brill com. Buck, let cut in Soccage for the reserve of one hundred 
capons to the king's table, K. p. 52, Tenants who held in Soccage 
might by custom be obliged to some services of plough or cart 
which were called Soccagia, and sometimes were expresly re- 
nounced by the lord, — Pro omnibus servitiis, tallagiis, soccagiis, et 
pro omnibus secularibus exactionibus et terrenis demandis, K. p. 202. 
To prove the tenure of Soccage was a sufficient discharge from 
claim of scutage and military service to the lord of the fee, — Qua- 
liter extincta sunt feoda domini abbatis quce ab ipso petita sunt — 
Residuum quod habet de honore Sancti Walerici tenetur de abbate 
regalis loci per assignationem comitis per soccagium, et non haben- 
tur ibidem nisi tria cotogia, K. p. 305. 

Soka, Scca, Sax. Socn. A liberty or franchise of holding a 
court and exercising other jurisdiction over the socmen or soccage 
tenants within the extent of such an honor oj mannor. — Castrum 
et manerium de Bolyngbroke cum soka, mara, etmarisco cum perti- 
nentiis, K. p. 418. From Soccage, commonly called the plough 
tenure, in the North they still call a plough-share a Sock or Plough- 
gock. 

bpuRARiuM Aureum. A Spur Royal. Lat. Spourones, Spurs, Sax. 



GLOSSARY. 135 

Spojia, a Spur, Spop, a tread or track, whence the Sporling of a 
wheel, i. e. a wheel track in the North. A Sporre-way or Spurr- 
way in Sussex, i. e. a sheer- way or bridle- way. Spoj nan, to spurn 
or to kick. To walk or run a Spurt. To Spur or to strike. A 
Sparthe or double axe, as Spencer, " He hath a Sparthe of twenty 
pound of weight." But this rather from Lat. Sparus, Sax. Spaepa, 
Eng. Spear. Nor is it absurd to think that our P^nglish Sport was 
originally foot-ball-play, though since extended to any other game. 
— Pro hac recognitione Johannes dedit prcedicto Hugoni unurn spu- 
rarium aureum, K. p. 321. 

Stallum. Some think it a contraction of Stab ulum. Sax. Sral, 
a Stall, a seat, a standing, and in old Eng. any sort of chair or stool, 
as Spencer, " A woman at a door sate on a Stall." From Stall as 
applied to the standing or apartment of horses in a stable, comes 
the Lat. Stalonus, Eng. Stallion, and old Eng. a Stallere, i. e. a 
groom. A Still or stand to set beer upon in a cellar. A Stage. 
To Stall in Lincolnshire to feed, or fill, or make fat. A Stalled ox, 
i. e. a fat ox. And perhaps the Stale and Staling of horses. Sax. 
Sral-jeo/ib, Stalwart, strong, as Duglass renders fortia corpora in 
Virgil, — stalwart bodyis. The Stalking or walking of a horse. — 
In the chancel of every conventual church, the religious had each 
of them a Stall. As now in cathedral quires, — Willielmi de Long' 
spe animam Ela ahbatissa de Lacock vidit coelos penetrantem in stallo 
suo, -et coram cceteris sororibus denuntiavit, K. p. 244. 

Stall agium. Stallage, a custumary rent paid in fairs and 
markets for the liberty of a Stall or standing, by the Stallangers or 
the creamers, i. e those traders who exposed their goods to sale 
in the said Stalls. To be exempt from this duty, or to have a 
free standing, was a privilege granted by King Hen. II. to the 
tenants and merchants within the honor of Walingford, — utquieli 
sint de thelonio. stallagio, &c. K p. 114. Edmund earl of Corn- 
wall to the Bonhommes of Asherugge and their tenants, — ut in 
singulis burgis et villatis nostris, et etiam in singulis nundinis et 
mercatis nostris liber e valeant em ere et vender e ornnes mercandisas 
absque ullo theloneto seu stallagio nobis vel hceredibus nostris inde 
prcBsentando, K. p. 311 From the Stall of wares and goods comes 
the Staple of merchants, Staple-commodities, &c. 

Stapron. A course apron. — Ei in stipendio Katerino? Co lin s 
facienti mantalia coquiniP hoc anno xx den, et in datis eidem pro 
uno stapron Wx.den. K. p. 576. 

Status de manerio. All the tenants and legal men met in the 
court of their lord to do their custumary suit, and enjoy their cus- 
tumary rights. — Apud curiam de Wrechwike tentam injesto S. An- 
drece, an. 17 Edw. III. — Omnis status de IVrechwiko elegerunt 






136 GLOSSARY. 

Hugonem Kyng ad qfficium propositi, et jur amentum suscepit, K. 
p. 456. 

Staurum. Any Store or standing stock of cattle, provision, 
&c. — Computant de quatuor solidis provenientibus de stauro love- 
rice, K. p. 571.— de duobus coriis vaccarum stauri de la Breche, ib. 

Sterlingi, Esterlingi. Sterling money, old Eng. Starlinges, 
Lindwood has a childish fancy, that a Starling or bird was imprest 
upon such old coin. Some pretend it was the purer metal which 
the Easterlings or eastern merchants brought into these parts. 
Others would presume it first coined at the castle of Sterling in 
Scotland. But Mr. Somner seems most happy in the derivation of 
it from the Sax. Sceope, a rule or standard, from Sceopan, to guide 
or govern. So as Sterling mony seems to be that sort of coin, 
which for metal and value was to be a common standard of all 
current mony. "Which seems the more probable, because such 
mony at the first coming in of the Normans was called Sterilensis. 
As Orderic. Vital, sub an. 1082. — Porrigam quindecim sterilensium. 
From the same Sax. Sreopan comes our Eng. to Steer right ; the 
Steer or Stern, and the Star-board of a ship. A Steers-man or pilot. 
To Stare or fix the eyes. To Start. The Stirrop in a saddle. 
Sterbrech in our old law, i. e. a trespass in stopping or molesting 
the common road, whence a Stray, and to go astray. Mr. Somner 
does ingeniously conjecture that the termination of Ster in several 
faculties and trades is owing to the same original \ and signifies the 
mastery or command of such an art, as a Maltster, a Gamester, a 
Spinster, a Songster, &c. — decern solidos sterlingorum, K. p. 12Q. 

Strakys. The Strakes or Streaks of a wheel, i e. the iron 
plates that shoe the fellows of a wheel, or be nailed round the 
circumference of it. A Lat. Striga-, a long furrow, Sax, Stepice, 
Germ. Streke, Eng. Stroak or Streak. Whence a small stalk or 
young strait branch, is in Kent and other parts called a Strig. A 
Strickle or smooth strait piece of wood to Strike corn in the mea- 
sure of it. To Stroak down. To Streek in the North, i. e. to pull 
out, or open, or lay smooth. — In uno pari rotarum vocat. Schozears 
empt. ibidem, ut patet per prcedictum papirum vii. sol. ii. den. et in 
vi. Strakys j err eis iv.sol K. p. 573. 

Strand. Sax. Stpanbe. Any shore or bank of a sea or river. 
An immunity from custom and all imposition paid for goods and 
vessels of such places was granted by King Hen. II. to the church 
of Rochester, — Concedo et covfirmo in perpetuum cum socner et 
seke, strande and stream. Mon. Ang. torn. 3. p. 4. So the same 
prince granted to all tenants and traders within the honor of Wa- 
lingford, that — By water and by land, by wood and by strand, quieti 
sint de thelonio, pontagio, &c. K. p. 1 14. Hence the street in the 



GLOSSARY. 137 

west suburbs of London, which lay next the shoar or bank of the 
Thames is called The Strand. Whence a ship or vessel running 
on the shoar, and being broke to pieces, is said to Strand and to be 
Stranded. And G. Duglass mentions the Strandis of the sea. 

Strata. Sax. Srpaete, Eng. Street or high-way. Hence to 
Strout and Strut along, to make Streit or Strait, to Stretch out, 
&c. — Extendit se in latitudine juxta altam stratam versus ccemi- 
terium ecclesice parochialis de Btrencester, K. p. 325. 

Strepitus Judicialis. The circumstances of noise and croud 
and other turbulent formalities at a process or trial in a publick 
court of justice, — Possint eos et eorurn successores per omnem cen~ 
suram ecclesiasticam ad omnium et singulorum prcemissorum obser- 
vationem absque articuli seu libelli petitione et quocunque strepitu 
judiciali compellere, K. p. 344. 

Suetta, Secta. Suit or service done to a superiour lord. From 
the Fr. Suivre, to follow. — Pro omnibus servitiis, curiae sectis, suettis, 
releviis, &c. K. p. 202. 

Suffragia orationum. The prayers and holy offices performed 
by the religious for their founders and benefactors. Bernard de S. 
Walery gave the site and advouson of the abby of Godstow to King 
Hen. II. — Salvis tantummodo mihi et hceredibus meis ejusdem ec- 
clesice orationibus et eleemosince suffragiis, K. p. 127- Isabel Gar- 
gat gave a croft to the canons of Burcesrer, — Dicti vero canonici 
receperunt me et dominam matrem meam specialiter in orationibus 
suis et suffragiis domus suce imperpetuum, K. p. 14g. Sir John de 
Molins was a special benefactor to the canons of St. Marie Overie 
in Southwark, for which they made him partaker of all their prayers 
and suffrages, and covenanted to mention him in all their masses, 
vigils, &c. K. p. 425. 

Sulcus Aquce. A small brook or stream of water, which in 
Essex is called a Doke. — In fine inferiore ipsius merce descendit qui' 
dam sulcus Jiuens inter medium de Stanford-more prcedicta usque in 
Nether- Stanford, et ibi vocatur Bygenhull-broke, K. p. 531. From 
the word Brook comes possibly the fishing term of Brokling or 
Brogling for eels. In Sussex and some other parts the clouds are 
said to Brook up, when they gather and threaten rain. ToBrookle 
or Brukle in the North is to make wet and dirty. 

Summa, Saugma, Sauma, a Gr. Say^-a. Fr. Saume, Somme, 
Properly any load or burden of a horse. In old charters we fre- 
quently find Sauma vini and Summa ligni for a horse load of wine 
or wood. Mr. Somner believes that this sort of burden gave name 
to a Sumpter-horse, Lat. Equus Saumarius, Fr. Somiere. Summa 
frumenii, Sax. Seam and ream-bynben, was the quantity of eight 
bushels or a quarter, still called a Seam in Kent and other South 



4 



i 



138 GLOSSARY. 

parts. The Knights Templars gave to the wife of Sir Wido ds 
Aleriton, — duas summas bladi, K. p. 120. — One Seam of nuts was 
equivalent to two shillings in 23 Hen. II. K. p. 132. Maud de 
Chesney gave to the canons of Burcester, — quinque summas fru- 
menti ad hostias Jaciendas, K. p. 158. Hence a sum of mony. 
The termination of Sum and Some implying a plenty and fullness, 
as Troublesome, &c. The Summer in building, or chief beam to 
support the roof. A term in falconry, a hawk, is full Summed, 
when the plumes are full grown, &c. 

Summonitok. A Summoner or Apparitor, who was to cite in 
a delinquent to appear at a certain time and place to answer a 
charge exhibited against him. Two persons were joined in this 
office, who in citations from a superiour court were to be peers or 
equals of the party cited. At least the barons were to be sum- 
moned by none under the degree of knights, hence Summonitores 
ordinarii, legates, boni. — Summone ibidem per bonos summonitores 
eundem Thomam quod sit coram, nobis in crastino S. Johannis Bap- 
tist ce responsurus ad hoc quod ei proponetur , K. p. 177- — Summo- 
nitus ad respondendum, Legally summoned or cited to answer an 
action or complaint, — Johannes flius Nigelli sen, summonitus fuit 
ad respondendum domino regide placito quo ivarranto clamat habere 
visum franciplegii, K. p. 3 13. Summonitores Scaccarii, Those offi- 
cers who assisted in collecting the king's revenues by citing the 
defaulters into thecourt of Exchequer, — De scutagio quod per sum- 
monitores Scaccarii exigis, K. p. 200. Hence in the diocese of 
Canterbury the apparitors in each deanery are called the Sumners. 

Swanemotum. From Sax. Span, a Swain, as Country-swain, 
Boat-swain, and Gemote, a court or convention. The Swane- 
mote was a court held twice a year by the forest officers, fifteen 
days before Midsummer, and three weeks before Michaelmas, for 
enquiry of the trespasses committed within the bounds of the forest. 
An inquisition de statu forestcp. de Bernwode, 38 Edw. III. — Di- 
cunt quod for est arii ut injure domini regis diet ce fores tee habere de- 
bent una vice per annum, ad Swanemota sua cum tenia fuerint re- 
pasta sua in aliquilus maneriis, K. p. 449. What Mr. Somner 
writes Span Sir Henry Spelman makes to be Spang, a labourer, 
whom Chaucer calls a Swinker, from Spincm, to labour and take 
pains, whence in Kent a hard labourer is said to Swink it away. 
From thence Spungan, to thresh, in the North to Swingle, with a 
jBail there called a Swinge], whence to Swinge off, or take a Swing- 
ing blow. 

Swath a. Sax. Spa^, a Swath or in Kent a Sweath, in some 
parts a Swarthy i. e. a strait row of cut grass or corn, as it lies in 
the Swath at first mowing of it. A Swathe of meadow was a 



GLOSSARY. 1 39 

longe ridge of ground, like a Selion in arable land. William Bur- 
ward sold his part of five Swaths in a meadow called Bikemore, 
K. p. 3SO. Ducp Swathes dicti pratijacentut sequitur, K. p 399. 
Duce Swathes apud Mathammes, K. p. 401. Hence in the North 
a Swath banks is a Swarth of new cut grass or hay : where a green 
Swarth in a bottom among arable land is called a Swang Hence 
Sax. Sj^eril, a Swath, or Swaddle, or Swadling-cloaths. To Swad- 
dle or bind up. A Swad or bundle of hay or straw. The Swads 
or Swods of pease, Sax. Speapb, The S wealth, Swarth, or Sword 
of bacon Green-swerd or the turf of grass ground. A Swatch or 
Switch, a small stick or rod, a Swache in the North is a tally of 
wood, especially fixt to cloth sent to the dyer. To Swaddle and 
Swatchel, i. e to beat or strike with a wand or rod that shall bend 
round the body, or thing so stricken, As prov. in Kent, " He 
swaddle your sides," i. e. with a whip or wand I will strike, and 
make it bend and meet round your body. By metaphor, Swad in 
the North is slender, i. e. close bound, as a Swad-fellow, a meer 
Swad And by a-like figure Swath, smooth and calm, as Swath- 
weather. 

Sworn Brothers. Fratres Juratl. Persons who by mutual oath 
covenanted to share each the other's fortune. — Statutum est quod 
ihi dehent populi omnes et genies universes singulis annis, semel in 
anno scilicet convenire, scilicet in capile kalendarum Man, et sefide 
Sacramento von fracto ihi in unurn et simul cortfederare, et consoli- 
dare, sicul conjurati fratres. Leg. Edw. Confess, cap. 35. — In any 
notable expedition to invade and conquer an enemies country, it 
was the custom for the more eminent souldiers of fortune to en- 
gage themselves by reciprocal oaths to share the rewards of their 
service. So in the expedition of Duke William, Eudo and Pinco 
were sworn brothers, and copartners in the estate which the con- 
<}uerour allotted to them. So were Robert de Oily and Roger de 
Ivery, by vertue of which contract, the said Robert gave one of his 
two honors in this county to his sworn brother Roger, from whom 
it was first called the mannor of Ivery, as afterwards the honor of 
St. Walery, K. p. 56. Robertus de Oleio et Rogerus de I uerio fra- 
tres jurati, et perjldem et sacramentum confaederati venerunt ad 
conquestum Anglice, K. p. 5/. No doubt this practise gave occa- 
sion to our prov. of " Sworn-Brother, and Brethren in iniquity," 
because of their dividing plunder and spoil. 

Synodi. The ancient episcopal synods (which were held once 
a year about Easter) were composed of the bishop as president, the 
dean cathedral as representative of that collegiate body, the arch- 
deacons as at first only deputies or proctors of that inferiour order 



140 GLOSSARY. 

of deacons, and the urban and rural deans who represented all the 
parochial priests within their division, K. p. 648. 

Synodalia. Synodals or Synodies, a pecuniary rent, com- 
monly two shillings, paid to the bishop at the time of his annual 
synod by every parochial priest. This burden was sometimes 
justly laid upon the appropriators : so at Merton appropriated to 
the abby of Egnesham, — Solutionem decimce cujuscunque currentis, 
ac synodalium, et aliorum censuum ipsam ecclesiam pro tempore con- 
cernentium, — Religiosos et eorum succesores supportare volumus, K. 
p. 483. 

Synod ales Testes. The urban and rural deans were at first so 
called from informing and attesting the disorders of clergy and 
people in the episcopal synod. But when they sunk in their au- 
thority, the synodical witnesses were a sort of impanelled jury, a 
priest and two or three lay men for every parish. And at last two 
for every diocese were annually chosen, till by degrees this office 
was devolved on the church- wardens, K. p. 649. Juramentum 
Synodale was the solemn oath taken by the said Testes, as is now 
by church-wardens to make their just presentments. 



T. R. E. Tempore Regis Edwardi. It occurs frequently in the 
Doomsday Survey, where the valuation of mannors is recounted, 
what it was in the late reign, and what in the present. So — Ma- 
tierium de Burcester T. R E. valuit quindecim libras, modo sexde- 
cim, K. p. 65. 

Tallia, Talia. From Sax. Talian or Taellan, to account or 
estimate : or froui the Fr. Tailler, to cut. A Tally or piece of 
wood cut with indentures or notches in two corresponding parts, 
of which one kept by the creditor, the other by the debtor. As 
fiOw used by our brewers, &c. and was formerly the common way 
of keeping all accounts.— Ut pat et per talliam contra Willielmum 
Spinan cotlectorem redditus ejusdem anni, K. p. 57O. — Receptis de 
redditu in Cnrtlington per talliam contra Willielmum Newman coU 
lectorem redditus ibidem, K. p. 57 1. Hence to Tell mony, old 
Eng. a Tailed sum. The Tale of mony. The Tallier (Talliator) 
of the Exchequer, whom we now call the Teller. 

Talliari de certo tallagio. To be assest or taxt at such a rate 
or proportion, imposed by the king on his barons and knights, or 
by them on their inferiour tenants. — 33 Hen. III. Rex illas xvi. 
libras ad quas homines qui fuerint Godefridi de Craucumb in Py- 
dinton — nuper talliati fuerint, assignavit ponendas per visum Hu- 



GLOSSARY. 14! 

gonis Gargdte, — Et mandatum est vice com. Oxon. quod homines de 
prcedicto manerio pro prcedicto tollagio de ccetero non dislringat, 
K. p. 241. The inferiour tenants sometimes made a composition 
with their lord for this Tallage. As the tenants of Hugh de Pies- 
sets in Hedingdon, — Quotiens dominus rex suos dominicos talliare 
contigerit, dabunt prcedicto Hugoni et hceredibus suis quinque mar" 
cas, et dictus Hugo concessit pro se et hceredibus suis, quod iidem 
homines quieti sint de tallagio pro eisdem, K. p. 321. This Tal- 
lage of the custumary tenants was sometimes fixt and certain, and 
sometimes at the arbitrary pleasure of the lord. — Extenta manerii 
de Ambrosden 28 Edw. I. — Sunt ibidem fx. cotterii, et reddunt per 
annum ix. sol. et debent talliari per annum de certo tallagio ad sex 
libras, K. p. 682. In Burcester King's-end — Quilibet custuma- 
rius domince debet talliari adfestum S. Michaelis pro voluntate do- 
mince priorissee, K. p. 401. — In illo manerio de Pedinton qucelilet 
virgata terrce dabit ad tallagium domini circa natale Domini ns. 
K. p. 4Q5. — Tenent quinque acras terrce et duas acras prati de do- 
minico pro dimidia marcaper annum salvo tallagio domini adfestum 
natalis Domini, K. p. 495. The lords in Ireland impose an arbi- 
trary tax on their tenants which they call a Cutting, the literal 
meaning of the French Taillage. 

Taxa. The Task or labour of a workman. Trituratur ad taxam, 
a Tasker or thresher in the barn, who works by the great, or by 
the measure, not by the day. — Et in solutis Johanni Leseby tritu- 
ranti ad taxam xlv. quarteria frumenti ut patet per ialliam hoc an- 
no, capiendo pro quolibet quarterio iii. den. ob. K. p. 5JQ. 

Taxatio Norwicensis . The valuation of ecclesiastical benefices 
made through every diocese in England, on occasion of the pope's 
granting to the king the tenth of all spirituals for three years. 
Which taxation was made by Walter bishop of Norwich delegated 
by the pope to this office in 38 Hen. III. and obtained till the 
19th of Edw. I. when a new taxation advancing the value, was 
made by the bishops of Lincoln and Winchester at command of 
the king and permission of the pope, K. p. 249, 315. 

Temporalia. The lands, houses, tithes, and other fixt endow- 
ments of a bishoprickorabby, distinct from the spiritualities, which 
arose more immediately from the function and office, as synodals, 
pentecostals, &c. These temporalities held by barony, were seised 
into the king's hands by the eschaetor at the death of every such 
prelate : and after the election and confirmation of a successor, 
there was a writ de restitutions temporalium, K. p. 330. 

Temporalia Ecclesice Parochialis. The manse, glebe, and. 
tithe, as distinct from the voluntary oblations, and other contingent 
perquisites. Upon a judgement in the Exchequer against Ichel de 



142 GLOSSARY. 

Kerewent rector of Bucknell, an. 26 Edw. I. his temporals were 
seised^ and put into custody for two years, K. p. 330. 

Tenementum. Tenure or holding. — Unam virgatam terrce in 
Meriton, — huhendam et tenendam — de tenemento Dominorum Tem- 
plariorum, K. p. 12Q. Tenementa were lands or houses or any 
yearly profits Tenanted or held by tenants. 

Tenths. First fruits and tenths of all ecclesiastical benefices 
were paid to the see of Rome, and by Pope Innocent IV. the 
Tenths were first given to King Hen. III. an. 1253, for three 
years, which occasioned the Norwich taxation, an. 1254, which 
proved a great oppression to the clergy, and soon made more 
grievous. For when the pope had again granted the tenths to the 
king for three years, for a compensation of what they fell short of 
the due value, the king in the 53d year of his reign, an. llQg, 
made the clergy pay within those three the tenths of four years, 
K. p. 312. — An. 3 288, 16 Edw. I. Pope Nicholas IV. granted the 
tenths to the king for six years, toward his expedition to the Holy 
Land, and that they might be then collected to the full value, a 
new taxation by the king's precept was begun an. 1288, and 
finished an. 1291, 19, 20 Edw. I. by the bishops of Lincoln and 
Winchester, K. p. 315. 

Terra. In the form of inquisitions entred in the Doomsday 
Register, this word Terra put simply, must signifie arable land, as 
distinct from wood, meadow, and common pasture. So in Bern- 
cester,— Hi sunt 15 hides et dimidia — Terra 22 carucatarum. De 
hac terra tres hidte in dominio. — So in Bucknel, — Ibi sunt 7 hides. 
Terra 10 carucataram, tsfc. K. p. iJ5. I confess I do not build 
this on the authority of any author ; but there seems to be no 
sense without this distinction, that the hides were a computation 
of the whole mannor in gross; which was afterwards particularly 
described under the distinct heads of Terra or arable land, Pratum 
or meadow, Silva or wood land. 

Terra Normannorum. Such land in England as had been 
lately held by some noble Norman, who by adhering to the French 
king had forfeited his estate in this kingdom, which by this means 
becoming an escheat to the crown was called Terra Normannorum, 
and restored or otherways disposed at the king's pleasure. — 
8 Hen. III. Rex vicecom. Oxon. salutem. Sdas quod commisimus 
Thorn cc Basset manerium de Kirtlington qucc est terra Normanno* 
rum, K. p. 197. 

Tessellata pavimenta. The pavements in the tents of the 
Roman generals made of curious small square marbles, bricks, or 
tiles, and called Tessellce, from the form of dies, K. p. 12. Such 
a Tessellated pavement of porphyry marble was laid by King 



GLOSSARY. 143 

Edw. I. round the sepulcher of his father at Westminster, K. 
p. 13. 

Thane. Sax. Degen, a military servant, from Denian, to serve, 
Dening, any duty, charge, or office. Cyninger-Degen, the king's 
Theine or Thane was a Saxon lord or nobleman. And after the 
Conquest the word was sometimes used to denote all persons of su- 
periour degree, K. p. 54. 

Thassare, Tassare. To lay up hay or corn into a Tass. Toss, 
stack or mow, Lat. Tassa, Tassus, Tassius, Sax. Tar, Fr. Tas. — 
Homines de Hedingdon qui carectas non habuerint venient cum fur- 
cis suis ad dictum feonum levandum et thassandum, K. p. 320. — Qui 
carectas non habuerint adjuvabunt ad thassandum bladum ,\b.—-Pro 
victualibus emptis pro factoribus tassiorum prions xiirf. K. p. 550. 
Hence a Tassel or Tossel, to Tass or Toss, Hay-toss; a mow of 
corn in a barn is called in Kent the Toss. And by metaphor the 
yard of a man is called his Tass. Gawen Duglass calls a wood- 
stack or wood -pile, a Tass of green stick. In old Eng. Taas was 
any sort of heap. As Chaucer, " To ransake in the taas of bodies 
dead." And Lidgate Troil. 1. 4, c. 30. 

" An hundred knyghls slain and dead alas 
That after were found in the taas." 

Tithe. Two parts of the tithe of a mannor or parish were 
often given to a religious house : of which the reason was this. — 
Tithe of England in the time of Augustin the monk was divided 
commonly into four parts: and in the leign of King Alfred re- 
duced to three parts, of which a first part to the repair of churches, 
a second to the relief of the poor, and a third only to the mainten- 
ance of the parish priest. Hence the lords of mannors at their first 
building of churches did often allot no more than that third part of 
tithes for an exhibition to the parish priest, and kept the other two 
parts in their own hands for the uses of the church and poor: till 
by degrees they either gave in the two other parts to the parochial 
priest, or else with the bishop's consent assigned them to some re- 
ligious house, K. p 79* This was the meaning of giving two 
garbs or theavs or sheaves to the religious, while the third garb re- 
mained due to the parish priest, K. p. 81. So Brien Fitz-Count 
gave a third part of the tithe of his demesne in Hillingdon to the 
monastery of Evesham, K. p. 100. So Robert de Oily to the secu- 
lar canons of St. George in the castle of Ovford. — Duas partes de- 
cimce de omni re quae decimari soiet de omnibus dominicis de Hoke- 
norton, Swerefordia, &c. K. p. 104. In the parish of Compton- 
Basset com. Wilts, the Persona or rector had — tertian partem 
decimarum garbarum : and the prior and convent of Burcester baU 



144 GLOSSARY. 

— duas partes decimarum garbarum, K. p. 205. By the laws of 
King Edgar made about 670 if a Thane or lord should have within 
his own fee a church with a burial place, i. e. a parish church, he 
must give the third part of his tithe to it. But if it had no privilege 
of burial, i. e. if it were only a chappel of ease depending on a 
mother church, then the lord was to maintain the priest out of his 
nine parts, K. p. 594. Two parts of the tithe of the demesne of 
Heyford-Warine was given to the chappel of St. Georges, and 
thence transferred to the abby of Oseney, K. p. 513. In the 
mannor of Chesterton, the abby of Glocester had two parts of the 
tithe of the demesne land, which they firmed out to the abbat and 
convent of Oseney, who as appropriators had the third part, K. 
p. 223. This division of tithe was the occasion of disputes and 
quarrels, and therefore one part was often bought off, and united 
to the other : or at least one share rented out to those who had the 
other, that the whole tithe might be collected together. So the 
monks of Egnesham compounded with the canons of Burcester to 
receive a yearly pension of twelve shillings in lieu of their two 
parts of tithe in Stratton, K. p. 144. Two parts of the tithe of 
Burcester belonged first to St. George's and then to Oseney abby, 
till in 28 Edw. I. the abbat and canons of Oseney resigned their 
right of two parts to the prior and canons of Burcester, who had 
before as appropriators a third part, for a rent or pension of sixty 
shillings yearly, K. p. 343. The arbitrary disposition of tithes by 
lay men was a conceit of Mr. Selden, confuted, K. p. 105. Paro- 
chial tithes were sometimes given to the religious for admitting the 
donor's son into their house and order, K. p. 81. Tithes could 
not be lawfully detained or enjoyed by a lay man, — Salvis ecclesice 
noslrce de Missenden decimis ad capellam de Museweli spectantibus, 
et siqua sunt alia ad dictam capellam spectaniia, quae laico retinere 
non licet, K. p. 226. Tithes personal were alway paid in country 
villages, as well as in populous towns and cities: and in appropri- 
ations, because hard to collect, they were generally allotted to the 
vicar. — So the prior and canons of St. Frideswide to the vicar of 
Oakle, — -Omnes decimas personales in dictis provcnientes de quceslu 
eGrum qui de mercatura vivunt, K. p. 455. So the prior and con- 
vent of Burcester to the vicar of that church, — Vicarius et succes- 
sores decimas personales percipient et habebunt, prcedialibus eorun- 
dem locorum nobis et successoribus nostris omnino reservatis, K. 
p. 669. 

Tithing- Men. In the Saxon times, for the better conservation 
of peace, and the more easie administration of justice, every hun- 
dred was divided into ten districts or Tithings, each Tithing made 
up of ten friborgs, each friborg of ten families, and within every 



GLOSSARY. 145 

such Tithing — Statuerunt justitiarios super quosque decern fribor- 
gos, quos decanos possumus appellare, Anglice vero Tienhejrob, i. d 
caput de decern. Which Tithing-men or civil deans were to ex- 
amine and determine all lesser causes between villages and neigh- 
bours, but to refer all greater matters to the superiour courts, which 
had a jurisdiction over the whole hundred, K. p. 633. 

Todde. Perhaps from Sax. Tooaelan, to divide or parcel out. 
A Tod of wool is a parcel containing twenty- eight pounds or two 
stone, by stat. 12 Car. I. cap. 32. But in these parts the wool- 
men buy in twenty-nine pounds to the Todd, though they sell out 
but twenty-eight. — Computant de decern libris xviii. sol. vi. den. 
receptis de xxiii. todde lance puree venditce cuidam. mercatori Oxon. 
hoc anno, per le todde ix. sol. vi. den. K. p. 572. 

Tofta To/turn. A Toft, the ground which has been the site 
of a late messuage, or the place where any mansion or building 
lately stood. Ratum hahemus et stabile donum quod fecit de uno 
to/to et crofto, K. p. 307. 

Toll. Lat. Tolnetum, Thelonium, a Gr. Ts\ujviov. In the 
Saxon charters Thol was the liberty of buying and selling, or keep- 
ing a market in such a mannor. In later times it signified the 
custumary dues Or rent paid to the lord of a mannor for his profits 
of the fair or market, called the Toling-pence. Mon. Ang. torn. 2. 
p. 286. Alexander bishop of Lincoln gave to the abby of Tame— 
centum solidos de ihelonio Bannebirice, i. e. two hundred shillings 
yearly rent out of his Toll at Banbury, K. p. 94. King Hen. II. 
granted a privilege to the tenants and traders within the honor of 
Walingford — ut quieti sint de thelonio, K. p. 114. Edmund earl 
of Cornwal granted to the Rector and Bonhommesof Asherugge 
and their tenants — ut in omnibus burgis et villatis nostris, et etiam 
in singulis nundinis et mercatis nostris libere valeant emere et ven- 
dere omnes mercandisas absque ullo theloneto seu stallagio, K. p. 31 1 * 
Hence the Toll-booth or Toll-sey, or place where such custom was 
paid. This Toll at publick fairs and markets was paid at the sound 
of a bell, as we have now a market-ball, which possibly might give 
name to the Tolling of a bell, and to the proverb of being Tolled 
in, or drawn into a bargain. In Derbyshire they say Thole a while, 
i. e. Stay a while. 

Torclys, Torchia, Fr. Torche, Eng. a Torch, a Lat. Torquis, 
Fr. Tort, a wreath ; or Torris, a fire-brand. — In octo libris cerce 
emptis Oxon. eodem die ad faciendum ii. tor ceys versus natale Domini 
ad aulam prioris iii. sol. K. p. 574. 

Torneamenta. Torneaments, military exercises of armed 
horse-men to improve their strength and activity in war. From 
the Fr. Tourner, to turn about. They were invented in France by 



146 GLOSSARY. 

Geffry de Pruilli, who was killed at Anjou an. 1066. Justs and 
Torneaments are commonly joined in representing the celebration 
of these manly sports : but there was this difference between them, 
Torneaments implied the mutual engagement of several sides and 
parties : but Justs were the single combats of any two horse- men, 
one against the other. The first Torneaments authorised in En- 
gland were in 5 Rich. I. when one of the three solemn places ap- 
pointed by the king was Bayard's-green between Mixbury and 
Brackley, K. p. 153. Piers de Gaveston in 2 Edw. II. proclaimed 
Torneaments to be kept nigh his castle at Walingford, wherein he 
highly affronted the English nobility, K. p. 357- Solemn Justs 
performed at Whitney com. Oxon. between Humphrey Bohun earl 
of Hereford on the one part, and Aymer Valence earl of Pembrook 
on the other, K.p.386. King Edw. III. to express his joy for 
the birth of a seventh son at Woodstock, appointed publick Justs 
and Torneaments in that town, to which the nobility resorted in 
great numbers, K. p. 478. 

Tothlanda. A certain measure of land, in the dimension 
whereof I can find no direction, and can make no safe conjecture, 
— -cum una virgata terrce, et cum una tothlanda, et octo acris, 
quae fuerunt datce in dedicatione (Ecclesice de Heyford ad pontem) 
Wulfwini episcopi Dorcestrice, K. p. : 514. 

Tough. The beam of a plough, or that part by which it is 
drawn along. From Sax. Teon, to draw. Hence Tough that can 
be drawn out in length. To Tow or draw along a boat. Tow in 
spinning, or ductile flax or hemp.— Pro uno vomere et una cultura 
et dimidia toughe cum uno plowsho emptis xxiii d. K. p. 54p. 

Tractus -uum. Traces by which horses draw a cart or wag- 
gon. Par tractuum, a pair of traces, — Pro uno cartsadel, uno co- 
lero^ cum uno pari tractuum emptis xivd. K. p. 549. Hence prov. 
He is out of his traces, i e. He is out of his way of business. A 
Trace or Track, or way drawn or mark t out, by which a follower 
may Trace and Track the foregoer. The Lat. Traho was by the 
Saxons turned into Dnagan, whence to Drag, to Draw, to Drain ; 
to Drate in the North, to Draw out one's words in speaking. 
Dree in the North long and tedious, as a Dree way. A Dray or 
cart. A Dray-horse. A Drudge. Old Eng. to Dretche, i. e. to 
protract or spin out the time. A Dretching or delay. 

Translatare, pro iransferre. To remove or transfer. — Tunc 
translatavit se dicta domina usque ad Swaneton, et ibi obiit, K, 
p. 282. 

Tremuta, Treumia, Tremellum. Ther Hooper or Hopper in a 
mill, into which the corn is put to fall from thence to the grinding 
stones. Perhaps from the similitude to the Tramela or Tramellum, 



GLOSSARY. 3 47 

or net, which we still retain in the word Trammel, a net to catch 
larks. And possibly the Lat. Tremellum and Tramallum might be 
both of Saxon original, from Tna or Tpe, [so K.J two, and Msel, a 
cross, alluding to the travers form of the holes in a net. — Do lihere 
nw/ere in molendino meo, ila quod immediate post bladum existens in 
Ireumia, quod vuigariter dicitur ingranatum, eorum bladum mo- 
letur. Du Fresne, in voce TreurxHa* Baldwin Wac to the priory 
of Deping, — -Sciendum tamen est quod prcedicli monuchi facient sec- 
tam molendini mei tarn de blado suo quam hominum suorum. Ita 
quod ipsi habeant primam molituram post bladum quod invenerint 
in tremello. Mon. Ang vol. 1. p. 4/0. a. So Wido de Meriton in 
his charter to the Knights Templars, — Concesserunt mihi fratres 
unam iibertatem ad suum molendinum scilicet molendi segetem pro 
multura reddenda pro segete quce est in tremuta, K. p. 120. Our 
Hopper seems from the Sax. Dop, a circle or Hoop, or faoppan, to 
Hop, dance, or turn about, to Hobble, &c. as is implied by Chaucer, 
" The hopper waggeth to and fro." Hence a Hoppet in Lincoln- 
shire is a little hand-basket. A Hop or Hoop in Yorkshire is a 
measure containing a peck, or a quarter of a strike. A young child 
danced in the arms is by metaphor called a little Hoppet. Any one 
whose lameness lies in the hip is called Hopper-arsed. 

Trinoda necessitas. A threefold necessary tax or imposition 
toward the repairing of bridges, the maintaining of castles or garri- 
sons, and an expedition against invading enemies. In the grant and 
conveyance of lands, they were many times excepted from all 
other secular service, — Excepta trinoda necessitate — Exceptis his 
tribus, expeditione, pontis et arcis construction, K. p. 46. 

Toella, Toacula, Toalia, Tobalia, Fr. Touaille. A Towel, or 
linnen cloth to wipe the hands. Menagius derives it from the Lat. 
Tor ale , quod toro vel menses adstruebatur. But it is as wise to 
conjecture that our Towel might be from the Sax. Top, i e. Tow 
or course hemp, as well as a Napkin from the Sax. fcnoppe, the 
nap or lint of cloth. — Inter ornamenta ecclesice — Zona cum duabus 
tuallis benedictis, K. p. 598. 

Turnus Vicecomitis. The Sheriff's Turn or court kept twice 
every year within a month after Easter, and a month after Michael- 
mass, as the court leet of the county, at which all free tenants were 
obliged to do their suit and service, except those who compounded 
at a certain yearly sum, for the privilege of sending only one per- 
son to attend the sheriff, to represent and excuse the lord and 
tenants of that mannor. — Bardulfus de Cestreton debet viii. sol. de 
iurno vicecomitis, et cum vicecomes tenet turnos suos in prcedicto 
hundredo, idem Bardulfus mittet ibi unum de suis ad petendam 

12 



148 GLOSSARY. 

liber tat em suam, et habebit, nee ipse nee homines sui venient ibi, 
K. p. 318. 

Turribulum, Thuribulum. The pot of frankincense used in 
the old offices of religion. — Inter ecclesice ornamenta — Turribulum 
cum navi, K. p. 5Q8. 

V. 

Vadium. A pledge or surety. Ponere per vadium, to take se- 
curity or bail for the appearance of a delinquent in some courts of 
justice. — Edwardus rex vicecom. Oxon. salutem. Prcccipimus tibi 
sicut alias tibi prcecepimus, quod ponas per vadium et salvos plegios 
Johannem de Burey, K. p. 334. 

Valectus, Valettus, Vasletus, Vassaletus. A young Vassal, at 
first in an honourable sense for the son of a nobleman, afterward 
for an Armiger or military attendant, and at last for an inferiour 
servant. Whence a Varlet or vile fellow, a Valet de chambre : 
and hence possibly a servant's Vales or mony given to those Va- 
lets, — Et in blodeo panno empto pro armigeris et valectis prioris, 
K. p. 5J6. — Et in stipendio Johannis Baldwin valecti camerce pri- 
ons hoc anno xiii. sol. iv. den. ib. — Et in datis cuidam valetto fo- 
restce portanti carnes ferinas priori in crastino ejusdem festi xii. den. 
K.p. 5/8. 

Vandalen. A German word to wander, Say. j^aribjiian. 
Hence the people who came out of Scythia and settled on the coasts 
of the Baltic sea toward Germany, were called by the Romans 
Vandali, and by the Saxons Wandalens and Wendelens, who being 
employed as auxiliary souldiers in this island, gave name to Wen- 
dleburg near Alchester, K. p, 14. 

Vanys. Lat. Vannus y Sax. Fana, A Vane or Fane, a versatile 
ornament on the top of a house or tower to shew the turning and 
setting of the wind. — Cum duobus ventilogiis videlicet Vanys de 
tyn emptis de fabro de Ckerlton ponendis super utrumque jinem 
prcedicti dormitorii, v. sol. ii. den. K. p. 5J5. Hence a Fanne 
with which they ventilate or winnow corn. The Fann of a lady 
to cool her face. 

Vassallus. A diminutive from Vassus, a military servant j the 
title was afterwards given to servile tenants, who when they made 
any grant or assignation of land held by them, the grant was to be 
confirmed by their lord, K. p. 127. Sir Richard d'Amory com- 
puting for the lands of the Knights Templars, escheated to the 
king 2 Edw. II. accounted fourty shillings and ten-pence for the 
rent of Vassals and cottagers, K. p. 357. 



GLOSSARY. 149 

Vastum. A waste or common lying open to the cattle of all 
tenants who have a right of commonage, which right was some- 
times determined by a trial at law.— Thomas de Fekenham, debet 
regi quinque marcas et unum palefridum, sic quod inquisitio fiat 
utrum membrum ilhtd de manerio de Bruhull, quod idem Thomas 
tenet, debeat participare de vasto manerii de Bruhull ratione com- 
munce ejusdem manerii, in qua communa nihil habet, ut dicunt, 
K. p, 171. Vastum forestce vel bosci, when part of a forest or wood 
had the trees and underwood destroyed, and lay in a manner waste 
and barren. — Sciatis quod de vastis nosiris inforesta nostra de Bern- 
wodein com. Buck, dedimus, &c. K. p. 351. — Si boscus domini (de 
Pidenton) abeat in vastum, turn acquietabunt dominum pro dictis 
Housbote et Hay bote, K. p. 4gJ. To waste or destroy the vert of 
the forest was a trespass against the assise or laws of the forests. — 
Dicunt quod prior issa de Littlemore devastavit boscum suum de Shot- 
tore contra as sis am fores tee, K. p. 498. 

Venatio. Sometimes used for the exercise of hunting, and 
sometimes for Venison. If any without license hunted within the 
liberties of the king's forest, a severe penalty was imposed at the 
next swanemote t which fines or amercements were not allowed 
to the forester, but commonly reserved to the king. So when 
William Fitz-Nigel enjoyed several privileges as forestar of Bern- 
wode, it was — Exceptis indictamentis de viridi et venatione, quae 
domino regi omnino reservabantur, K. p. 73. 

Ventilare. To fann or winnow corn. Veniilatrices , the 
women who were employed in this work. — Et in ventilatricibus 
conductis in grosso ad ventilavda omnimoda grana triturata infra 
prioratum hoc anno, K. p, 5J6. Sax. )?inb, £ng. Wind, thence a 
Windore. In Kent the swaths of grass when turned and a little 
dried are cast into Windrows, to be farther exposed to the wind 
and sun. In some south parts the borders of a field dug up and 
laid in rows, in order to have the drie mould carried on upon the 
land to improve it, are called by this same name of Wind-rows. 

Vestura, Vestitura. A Vest, vesture, advesture. An allow- 
ance of some set portion of the products of the earth, as corn, grass, 
wood, &c. as part of a salary to some officer or servant, for their 
livery or vest. So forestars had a certain allowance of timber and 
under-wood yearly out of the forest for this use, — Annuatim perci- 
piendum tantum de roboribus et brueriis quantum pro vestura indi- 
guerit, K. p. 620. — Liberare faciatis eidem tanta robora et brueria 
quanta indigent usque ad xh. pro vestura sic restricta, K. p. 621. 

De Vi Laic a amovenda. When the bishop of a diocese has 
certified into the court of Chancery, that the rector or vicar of any- 
church within his jurisdiction is kept out of his benefice by any 



150 GLOSSARY. 

lay force or power, then may a writ be granted to the sheriff to 
remove all such violent force and resistance, which writ is there- 
fore entitled De vi laica amovenda. — Edwardus rex vicecom. Oxon. 
salutem. — Prcecipimus tibi quod omnem vim laicam quce se tenet in 
ecclesia de Bukenhull, quo minus idem episcopus ojficium suum spi- 
ritual ibidem exercere possit, sine dilatione amoveres ab eadem, 
K. p. 335. 

Vicaria. At first no more than any curacy or donative, till by 
ordination and rixt endowment it was made presentative, and called 
perpetual. Five marks were at first the common allotment to a 
perpetual vicar, — Vicaria in capella de Hedingdon — consistitin om- 
nibus olventionibus altaris cum minutis decimis totius parochice, ex- 
ceptis decirnis agnorum, et decimis casei, de curia domini provenien- 
tibus. — Et valet vicaria quinque marcas et ampiius, iota autem ec- 
clesia x\. marcas, K. p. 511. An advance was afterward made of 
ten marks, and sometimes to ten pounds. So in the ordination of 
Merton vicarage, an. 1357? 31 Edw JII. — Beservata congrua 
portione pro vicario perpetuo — quam portionem in decern marcis 
summcB pecunice sterlingorum fore el consistere secundum taxationem 
decimarum, K. p. 483. The vicarage of Churchill com. Oxon. 
ordained an. 14 Edw. Ill consisted — in decern libris argenti sol- 
vendis vicario ad duos anni terminos per priorem et canonicos de 
S.Frideswida, et de manso cornpetenteet honesto ; et in quinque acris 
terrce arabilis in uno campo, et quinque in altera, K. p. 505. En^ 
dowment of the vicarage of Chesterton, K. p. 543, of Burcester, 
K, p. 559. The same church had sometimes a rectory and vica- 
rage separate and distinctly endowed. So at Chesterton com. 
Oxon.— Willielmus archidiaconus London, ratione terrce et hceredis 
Boberti de Chesterton in manu sua eiistentium prcesentat ad eccle- 
siam de Chesterton, salva vicaria Ranulphi de Besaciis quam habet 
in eadem, K. p. 1Q3. When a vicar was too poorly endowed he 
complained to the diocesan, who Ijad power to augment his portion 
out of the appropriated tithe. So the vicar of Ellsteld nigh Oxford, 
applying himself to Oliver bishop of Lincoln, got an augmentation 
of three seams or quarters of corn from the prior and canons of 
St. Frideswide, who were the sordid appropriators, K. p. 515. 
Some imperious appropriators, to prove themselves lords over the 
servile vicar, expresly covenanted for a heriet to be paid them at the 
death of every vicar, — Vicarius de Cestreton post ejus decessum da-* 
bit heriettam rectori et conventui de Asherugge, K. p. 543. and 
sometimes against all equity and conscience laid the repair of the 
chancel on the poor vicar, ib. Yet the case of vicars was gene- 
rally better in the days of popery, because their own diet, and suit- 
able accommodation for their vicar and clerk, and the keeping of a 



GLOSSARY. 1 5 I 

horse, were commonly allowed them by the convent, and taken in 
specie at their court or mansion-house in the parish, whenever the 
religious resided there for their health, their business, or their plea- 
sure. So at Burcester, K. p. 559 . It was very happy for the in-, 
terest of the church and clergy, that at the first endowment of 
vicarages, the portion was assigned in improvable land and tithes, 
not in a stated sum of mony, K. p. 605. In the new valuation of 
church benefices, 26 Hen. VIII. vicarages were computed as if 
the greater tithes were included. So as the first fruits and tenths 
fell as heavy on the vicar as if he had been really rector of the same 
church, K. p. 632. 

Villa Regia. A title given to those countrey villages where 
the kings of England had a royal seat or palace, and held the man- 
nor in their own demesne. So Brill com. Buck, was called Villa 
Regia, K p. 53. So Hedingdon com. Oxon. &c. 

Villata. A small village opposed to Burgus a larger town. — 
In omnibus burgis et villatis nostris, K. p. 31 1. 

Villanus. A Villain, or rather a Villane. Some pretend it 
from the Fr. Vilain, Lat. Vilis, base and vile. But rather from 
Villa a countrey farm, (as Rustici, Coloni, &c.) where these men 
of low and servile condition had some small portion of cottages 
and lands allotted to them, for which they were depending on the 
lord, and bound to certain works and other corporal service. They 
were of two sorts, 1. Villanes in gross, who as to their persons, 
their issue, and their stock, were a sort of absolute slaves, the sole 
property of their lord, moveable and alienable at pleasure. 2. Vil- 
lanes regardant or appendant to a mannor, who were ascribed as 
members of such a fee, and as a pertinence of it, descended to the 
heir, or past along to every new lord For their service they held 
some small portion of house and land in Villenage. In Doomsday 
Inquisition these Villanes were recounted as an emolument and 
appendage of every mannor ; so in Burcester twenty eight Vil- 
lanes, in Bucknel six Villanes, &c. K. p. 65. Their persons were 
conveyed along with their lands so held in Villenage. Wido de 
Areines gave to the abby of Oseney his land in Mixbury, — Sex 
virgatas terrce de villenagio, cum villanis et eorum seeds et servidis, 
K. p. 212 William de Longspe confirmed to the priory of Bur- 
cester land in Wrechwike, — Cum villanis et eorum sequelis et ca~ 
tallis, K. p. 216. So Robert de Amory to the abby of Oseney 
two hides in Chesterton. So Hamo de Gattone conveyed his lands 
in Wreckwike, — Cum omnibus villanis et eorum tenemends et se- 
quelis, K. p. 2/2. — Villanos cum villanagiis omnibus catallis et 
tota sequela ipsorum, K. p. 288. — Una cum villanis, coterellis, 
eorum catallis, servitiis, seeds, et sequelis, K. p. 310. In the char- 



152 GLOSSARY. 

ter of Gilbert Basset and Egeline his wife to their priory at Bur- 
cester, — Terram nostram de Votesdun et de Westcote cum omnibus 
pertinentiis suis, scilicet dominium nostrum cum vilnagio, K. p. 151. 
The Villanes over and above their operations or custumary labours, 
paid an annual rent in mony. So in the extent of the mannor of 
Ambrosden taken in 28 Edw. I. — Sunt ibidem triginta et septem 
villani, quorum quisc/ue tenet unam virgatam terras, et reddunt per 
an. ix/. v*. K; p. 628. This tenure is now extinct, yet the foot- 
steps of it still remain in those custumary services which are now 
reserved from some tenants to the lord, as particularly from the 
tenants of Mr. John Coker lord of the mannor of Burcester King's- 
End. 

Vicinetum, Visne, Visnage. Neighbourhood. All persons 
to be returned on a jury as legal men, were to be deeodem vicineto, 
formerly of the same hundred, as now only of the same county.— 
Eiecti sunt duodecim homines legates de vicineto, K. p. 134. — Per 
sacramentum proborum et legalium hominum de vicineto de Chester- 
ton, K. p. 367. 

Vtegata terrce. A Yard-land. Sax. Gyjib-lanb, Gynb, a rod 
or Yard, Gynban, to Girt, in the North to Gyrd. Hence a Yard, 
a close, a backside, in the North a Garth. A Garden, Fr. Jardin. 
A Garland. A Garret. A Garter. A Girdle. A Horse-girt, &c. 
A Gird-land or Yard-land was originally no more than a certain 
extent or compass of ground surrounded with such bounds and 
limits. And therefore the quantity was uncertain according to the 
difference of place and custom. They reckoned in some parts 
fourty, in other thirty, twenty, and at Wimbleton in Surry but 
fifteen acres. Spelman. Gloss. Five virgates of land made the 
fourth part of a knight's fee in Otendone com. Oxon. 3 King Steph. 
K.p. 93. Two Virgates or Yard-lands in Chesterton 24 Hen. III. 
contained fourscore and ten acres, K. p. 224. 

Viride, Vert or green. Whatever grows in a forest, and bears 
boughs and leaves for the covering and shelter of the deer. Either 
Over-vert, Haut-bois, High-wood, Timber-trees : or Nether-vert, 
Sou-bois, Under- wood. All which Viridarius the Veredor was to 
supervise and maintain, and to bring indictments at the Swane- 
mote against those who wasted or trespassed on the Vert. The 
amercements for such offences were generally reserved to the king. 
So William Fitz-Nigel held the forestarship of Bernwode. — Ex- 
ceptis indictamentis de viridi et venatione, quce domino regi omnino 
reservabantur, K. p. 73. In all inquisitions taken of the state of 
forests, the Viridar was one of the jury. — Inquisitio capta — de fo- 
resta de Bernwode — domini Walteri Upton, Johannis Graundon 
viridarii, &c. — K. p. 20g. 



GLOSSARY. 153 

Visus Fores lariorum. View of the forestars. When the liberty 
of Housbote, Heybote, Fire-wood, or any the like privilege, was 
crranted within the bounds of a forest, it was not to be taken but 
ad visum forestariorurn, upon view and approbation of the fores- 
tars, K. p. 100. Thomas de S. Walery granted to the nuns of 
Stodley — qualibet septimana unam carectam ligni mortui in bosco 
suo de Hortcn per visum fores tar ii sui ejusdem nemoris, K. p. 170. 
The profits of this View were firmed or rented from the king. — 
Certus visus valet per annum ii. sol. et reddit domino regi pro prce- 
dicta hida et certo visu x. sol. K. p. 3 J 4. 

Visus custodis manerii. The inspection or care taken by the 
steward or bayliffof a mannor, for the doing right and justice to 
the lord. — Rex Mas sexdecim libras et dimiiiam marcce ad quas ho- 
mines de Pydinton nuper talliati fuerant, assignavit ponendas per 
visum Hugonis Gargate custodis prcedicti manerii in prcedicto ma- 
nerio instaurandum, K. p. 241. 

Visus Franciplegii. Vid. Franciplegium. 

Vivarium. Any place for the nurture and confinement of liv- 
ing creatures, as a park, a warren, a fish-pond, &c— Mud tene- 
rnentum cum vivario, et aliis pertinentiis , K. p. 224. — Et in datis 
prioris servientibus purgantibus vivarium versus molendinum ante 
idemfestum iv. den. K. p. 578. 

W. 

Waddemole, now called Woadmel, and in Oxfordshire Wod- 
denell, a course sort of stuff used for the covering of the collars of 
cart-horses. Mr. Ray in his Collection of East and South Country 
Words describes it to be a hairy course stuff, made of Island wool, 
and brought thence by our seamen to Norfolk, Suffolk, &c. Per- 
haps from the Sax. Peob, grass, hay, weed, and OOele, any hollow 
continent, as if a collar stuft with straw or hay. Or possibly from 
the Island. Vadur, a rope or any Wod of course hemp, and Mel, 
to beat, or Mall. — Et in quinque virgatis de Waddemole emptis pro 
coleris equinis hoc anno ii. sol. i. den. K. p. 574. 

Wake, Vigil, Eve. Feast of the dedication of churches. The 
original and continued observation historically delivered, K. p. fJOp. 

Wapentachium. A Wapentake. A portion or division of a 
county in the North, of the same extent as a hundred in other 
parts. The Laws of Edward Conf. cap. 33, derive it from the 
Sax. Paepnu, weapons, and Taccape, to confirm, or Tac, a touch, 
because in their solemn meetings they clattered their arms as a 
token of agreement. But Jo. Brompton gives this allusion, — Wa- 
pentake Anglice idem est quod arma capere, eo quod in primo ad- 



154 GLOSSARY. 

'centu novi domini solelant tenentibus pro homagio redder e arma sua. 
X. Script, col. 957. To which custom Ranulph of Chester refers 
the word in his Hist. 1. 1. cap. 5. This derivation as most agree- 
able is confirmed by Mr. Somner, who, both in his Glossary and 
in his Saxon Dictionary, deduces the word from Sax. paepen, arms 
or weapons, and Taecan, or rather Betaecan, to deliver up : from 
whence, says Mr. Somner, to betake or commit, and Tacke in the 
North for a firm or any tenement let out for rent. — Cum molen- 
dinis, firmis, wapentachiis, et hundredis qffirmatis, K. p. 354. — 
Cum villis et hamlettis, terris, tenements, hundredis, et ivapentagiis, 
K. p. 389. 

Warantum, Right and title to justifie and defend a possession. 
Spelman and Somner deduce it from the Sax. J?epian, to defend 
and to beware. But Du Fresne (possibly with less reason) chuses 
to derive it from the Lat. Creantare, to verifie or secure, from 
whence in his opinion the Fr. Granter and Garantir, &c. Placi- 
turn de Quo waranto, an action brought by the king to cite the de- 
fendant to prove his right of possession. — Johannes filius Nigelli 
sen. summonitus fuit ad respondendum domino regi de placilo quo 
waranto clamat habere visum, franciplegii, K. p. 3 13. Thence a 
Warant, or writ to authorize the apprehension of a debtor or de- 
linquent, To Warant any matter, to defend and justifie the truth 
of it. 

Warantia. A defence and legal assertion of right and title. 
Vocare ad warantiam , to desire a court of justice to cite or warn in 
a party to Warant or defend a title, which as superiour lord of the 
fee he is bound to maintain. So John de Peyto being sued for the 
mannorof Pidingtor, which he held under Sir John de Sutton and 
Isabel his wife, — Venit in curiam, et per Richardum de Sheldon at- 
tornalum suum vocat hide ad ivarantiam Johannem Sutton de Dud- 
ley chevalier, et Isabellam uxorem ejus, ut habeat eos hie in octabis 
S. Michaelis per auxilium cur'ice, K. p. 477* 

Warda. Say. j/'ea jib, Guard, Ward, or custody. Before the 
stat. of 12 Car. II. cap. 24, which dissolved the court of Wards, 
the heirs of all the king's tenants, who held in capite or by military 
service, during their nonage or minority, were in the Ward or 
custody of the king, or others by him appointed. The king dis- 
posed and committed these Wards as a compensation for debts and 
services, — Faciemus eidem Radulpho et hceredibus suis competens 
escambium in wardis et eschaetis ad valentiam prcedicti manerii, 
K. p. 203. 

Warde Penny, War-penny, War-scot, War th. A custumary 
due paid to the sheriff and other officers for maintaining Watch 
and Ward, payable at the feast of St. Martin. In the beginning 



GLOSSARY* 155 

of Edw\ I. Sir Bardulph de Chesterton held the mannor of Ches- 
terton, — Et debet sectam ad hundredum de Chadlinton—et debet 
quinque denarios de Warde-pennie adjestum S. Martini, K. p 318. 
Warectare. From Carectum, a plough. To plough up land 
in order to let it lye fallow for the better improvement, which 
ground in Kent we call Summer-land. Mense Jprili warectandi 
erit tempus idoneum et amoenum, cum terra fregerit post carrucam, 
Fleta 1, 2, cap. 33, sect. 4. — Homines de Hedingdon uno die warec- 
tabunt terrain domini, prout decet, ad unum diem cum carucis suis, 
K. p. 320. Thence Warectum, a fallow field, which Sir Edward 
Coke poorly fancies to be Warectum, quasi vere novo victum vel sub- 
actum. — Campus warectabilis, campus ad warectam, terra warec- 
tata, ad warectandum, tempus warectationis. Walterus prior Be- 
rencestrice per fratrem Thomam de Meriton fieri fecit quoddam 
Inhoc in campo warectabili utriusque Emicote, K. p. 297. Sir 
Roger de Amory gave to the nuns of Godestow — viginti quinque 
acras in Blechesdon ad seminandum, et tctidem ad warectandum. 
Mon. Aug. torn. 1. p. 425. In manerio de Pydinton qucelibet acra 
valet sex denariis tarn warectata, quam seminata, K. p 495. In 
communi pascura, sicut in bosco et in cainpis ad warectam possunt 
sustentari xvi. vaccce et unus taurus cum boviculis, K. p. 495.— 
Dominus Lestraunge habet duas separates pasturas in hoc campo, et 
sunt separates usque adfinem Sancti Jacobi apostoli omni anno, ex- 
cepto anno quo campus prcedictus jacet warectatus, K. p. 535. — 
Communam in campis de Burncester, tarn post blada vincta, quam 
tempore warectationis omni anno, K. p. 539. 

Warrena. A Warren, from Sax. fejian, to guard or keep. 
Libera Warrena, free warren was a liberty granted by the king to 
the lord of a mannor, that within such an extent he should keep 
and preserve, and take to his own use, fish, fowl, 1 and other game, 
which no other person should hunt or destroy without leave of the 
lord, K. p. 247. 

Waynscots. Deal boards to wainscote a wall. German 
WandschotLen, from old Teuton. Wand, a wall, and Schotten to 
cover or defend. — Et in sex estregbords videlicet Waynscots emptis 
apud Sterisbrugge u. sol. iii. den. K. p. 5J5. 

Weyf, Wayfi Wavium. From Sax. paeg, a Way, a Lat. Via. For 
the Latin /^consonant was by the Romans themselves pronounced as 
our W; Vinum Winum, Vallum Wallum, &c. which was the reason 
why the Saxons changed the letter ^into W, as wine, wall, way, 
&c. To which the britains prefixt a G, as Vectis, Wight, Gwydh; 
Venta, Went, Gwent. So Viavium, Waif, Gwaif. — Recogyiitum 
est militibus et liberis hominibus — quod ad nos spectat le Gwaif, 
K. p. \Q6. Waif was felons goods, or things feloniously stolen, 




156 GLOSSARY. 

left by the thief, and forfeited to the king or to the lord, who en- 
joys the right by a grant from the crown. — Emma Cooke domum 
Johannis Attewelle in Overwynchendon fregit, et xix. marcas—fe- 
lonice furata fuit — quae seisitce fuerunt ibidem tanqvam weyf in 
manum prioris, ut de antiqua consuetudine fieri consuevit, J . p. 50(5. 
Witheys. Any low place where willows grow. From j?rSig, 
a Willow tree, PfS&e, a With or Withe, — Tres acrce apud le Whi- 
iheyes, K. p. 3g5. Dimidia rodajacet ad Witheyes juxta pratum 
prions, K. p. 400. 



Yconomi Ecclesice. Pro Oiconomi. Church -wardens. — Qui 
ibidem compotum yconomorum dictce ecclesice de Oakle,—-Et ipsos 
onerent slue liberent, et novos yconomos eligant seu deputent, K. 
p. 616. 



